Spatiotemporal evolution of air cargo networks and its impact on economic development - An analysis of China's domestic market before and during the COVID-19 pandemic

Hang He, Hanjun Wu, Kan Wai Hong Tsui, Biao Wang and Xiaowen Fu

Journal of Transport Geography, 2024, vol. 117, issue C

Abstract: China's domestic air cargo network plays a crucial role in economic development by enabling the efficient and reliable transportation of goods, ensuring regional competitiveness, and supporting sustained economic growth. This study aimed to examine and analyse the spatiotemporal evolution of China's domestic air cargo network and structural configuration and its relationship with local economic development before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, thereby enhancing a better understanding of the mechanisms linking air cargo networks/operations and economic development. By applying the complex network theory and the seemingly unrelated regression framework, this study revealed a significant expansion of China's domestic air cargo network, even amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. The results showed the substantial growth of smaller airports in the western region that were involved in air cargo operations and the enhanced connectivity of major hub airports in coastal cities in the east. Moreover, this study established a causal relationship between the development of the air cargo network and economic growth. These findings have significant implications for various stakeholders, including policymakers at both the central and local levels, as well as airports and airlines, strengthening the development of air cargo networks.

Keywords: Air cargo network; Complex network theory; SUR model; COVID-19; China (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0966692324000814

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:jotrge:v:117:y:2024:i:c:s0966692324000814

DOI: 10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2024.103872

Access Statistics for this article

Journal of Transport Geography is currently edited by Frank Witlox

More articles in Journal of Transport Geography from Elsevier
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Catherine Liu ().