ABSTRACT
To investigate changing characteristics of the industrial correlation and economic contribution of air transport in China in different periods, the industry linkage effect and the industry ripple effect of air transport were assessed based on an input–output analysis over the period 2007–2020. Taking the air transport sector as an exogenous variable, the production-inducing effect and the supply shortage effect were calculated, and their changing characteristics were analyzed. The result shows that China's air transport industry is gradually changing its close linkages with secondary industries, and is instead strengthening its interaction with some tertiary industries. Before the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020, the production-inducing multiplier of air transport was trending downwards and the supply shortage multiplier was trending upwards. After the COVID-19 outbreak, China's air transport industry was hit hard and both the production-inducing effect and the supply shortage effect decreased significantly. The results of this paper are of great significance in the evaluation of the industrial correlation and economic contribution of air transport and can serve as a reference for formulating policies and improving the management of the air transport industry.