On the degree of synchronization between air transport connectivity and COVID-19 cases at worldwide level

Sun, Xiaoqian; Wandelt, Sebastian; Zhang, Anming

The current outbreak of COVID-19 is an unprecedented event in air transportation. While it was known that air transportation plays a key role in the spread of a pandemic, it is probably the first time that global aviation contributed to the planet-wide spread of a pandemic, with over 500,000 reported casualties related to the infection. In this study, we perform an analysis of the role air transportation played and how the air transportation system was changed throughout the ongoing pandemic. The major decision makers were countries (governments) and airlines, who were involved mostly in the decision and implementation of travel bans. Here, we focus on the role of countries, by analyzing the degree of synchronization between the number of cases reported in specific countries and how/when these countries reacted concerning the air transportation operations. Our study also provides a comprehensive empirical analysis on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on aviation at a country-level. It is hoped that the study can lead to novel insights into the prevention and control of future waves or pandemics of other types.