UAV and Advanced Air Mobility for Remote and Inter-Island Connectivity: A Systematic Literature Review

Abstract

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and advanced air mobility (AAM) offer potential alternatives for improving cargo and passenger transport in regions where conventional transport is constrained by distance, terrain, and fragmented geography. This study systematically reviews the use of UAV and AAM systems for connectivity in remote, rural, and inter-island settings. Following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, searches were conducted in Scopus and Google Scholar through Publish or Perish. Of the 3,561 records identified, 74 peer-reviewed journal articles published between 2016 and 2026 met the eligibility criteria. The evidence was synthesised narratively and supported by descriptive frequency analysis and bibliometric mapping using VOSviewer. Unlike earlier reviews that primarily examine urban air mobility, last-mile delivery, or medical-drone applications, this review jointly evaluates cargo and passenger transport, supporting infrastructure, and operational challenges from the perspective of remote and archipelagic connectivity. Cargo and goods transport accounts for 92% of the included studies, whereas passenger transport represents only approximately 1%. Multirotor platforms are the most frequently identified aircraft type, while weather, regulatory and airspace constraints, and limited supporting infrastructure are the leading operational challenges. The findings show that passenger-oriented and inter-island applications remain substantially underexplored and require field-based validation, particularly in archipelagic regions.