Abstract
The aim of this paper is to provide empirical evidence
of the trend associations between air transport and
economic growth in South Africa. Trends in air
transport were assessed by calculating annual
percentage changes using linear regression using
joinpoint regression. In addition, the trend associations
between GDP annual growth and airfreight, air
transport passengers (numbers) and air transport
carriers (number) were computed by plotting
standardised trends. The results showed that airfreight
increased between 1993 and 2016 although four
distinct phases of increase and decreases were
observed. This is the first study to investigate the
associations between air transport and economic using
ecological analysis and joinpoint regression in South
Africa. The results of this study confirm an association
between GDP and air transport and can be used as a
basis of further investigation to justify future
investments in air transport in South Africa.