The purpose of this research study is to establish the significance of the economic impacts of international air transport service market liberalisation on the international air transport service in the Southern African Development Community, where the topic is relatively under-researched. The study has been prompted by continued poor economic performance of the international air transport service despite some countries experiencing some liberalisation in the SADC. The capitalism economic theory forms the theoretical framework of the research. The research study adopts the secondary data analysis design within the quantitative approach. It works with a population of 49 country-pairs with signed bilateral air service agreements in the SADC. Employing the total population purposive sampling technique, it identifies a total population sample of 38 country-pairs with operational signed bilateral air service agreements from the population. The research study also works with a population of published and non-published electronic secondary sources of data generated by the country-pairs. Employing the convenience sampling technique, it identifies a sample of published and non-published electronic secondary data sources, and published and non-published printed secondary data sources from the population.
The findings show up to 62% statistically significant increase in passenger volume in liberal markets compared to restrictive markets. The findings show up to 10 US Cents per kilometer statistically significant reduction in passenger airfare in liberal markets compared to restrictive markets. The findings also show as much as 51% statistically significant increase in passenger departure frequency in liberal markets compared to restrictive markets. The findings show as much as 53% statistically significant increase in revenue passenger load factor in liberal markets compared to restrictive markets. The findings further show up to 62% times statistically significant increase in direct jobs in the T&T industry in liberal markets compared to restrictive markets.
The findings of the research study address the research problem and purpose. The findings imply that further liberalisation of markets can bring additional gains in the SADC. Therefore, the research study recommends full liberalisation through the Yamoussoukro Decision. However, future research should investigate the economic impacts of full liberalisation in the SADC. Knowledge on the economic impacts of liberalisation in the SADC, where the topic is relatively under-researched, contributes to the existing body of knowledge on the topic.