User preferences for Regional Air Mobility: Insights from Germany

Regional Air Mobility can shorten door-to-door travel time and, when electrified, lower emissions, but evidence on market demand and passenger adoption remains limited, because real-world operations are scarce and few studies quantify willingness to pay. This study addresses this gap by assessing market potential and adoption in Germany. We collected stated preference survey data from 1518 non-business and 401 business travelers, and estimated multinomial logit and mixed logit mode choice models to quantify how travel time, ticket price, and emissions influence preferences for Regional Air Mobility. Results show distinct patterns by trip purpose. Compared with conventional airliners, 19-seat commuter services are preferred and can achieve a mode share of up to 31% in the business travel market. Business travelers show a higher willingness to pay for time savings, between €102 and €130 per hour for hybrid-electric 19-seat aircraft, and both business and non-business travelers are highly sensitive to ticket price. Preference for commuter aircraft is strongest among high-income and frequent business travelers, while among leisure travelers, openness is greater for younger and technology-oriented individuals. Hybrid-electric options are more attractive to respondents with stronger environmental commitment. These findings inform decisions by stakeholders on service design and operations, network planning, aircraft design, and policy. • First insights into willingness to pay for Regional Air Mobility (RAM) in Germany. • Logit models assess the impacts of travel time, cost, and emissions on mode choice. • Business travelers are willing to pay more to save travel time. • Socio-demographic, behavioral, and attitudinal factors shape RAM preferences. • Preference for hybrid-electric aircraft reflects the demand for sustainable travel.