This article investigates the effects of air transport liberalisation on economic freedom and air connectivity, and the extended effects on economic development. A PLS path modelling estimator, applied to annual data for 52 countries over the period 2011–2019, shows that aviation liberalisation promotes economic freedom and improves air connectivity. The results also reveal that the economic contribution of air transport liberalisation varies across African countries and regions, relative to their levels of economic freedom and air connectivity. It is concluded that removing barriers to trade using air transport, combined with institutions that support economic freedom and the quality of air connectivity, may foster countries’ economic development.

本文研究了航空运输自由化对经济自由和航空连通性的影响，以及对经济发展的延伸影响。应用于 2011-2019 年期间 52 个国家的年度数据的 PLS 路径建模估算器表明，航空自由化促进了经济自由并改善了空中连通性。结果还表明，相对于经济自由度和航空连通性，航空运输自由化对非洲国家和地区的经济贡献各不相同。结论是，利用航空运输消除贸易壁垒，结合支持经济自由和航空连通质量的机构，可以促进各国的经济发展。