Chaotic, complex, and confused. This is the reality millions of flyers face, especially first-timers.
The process of being disconnected from the familiar world below, thousands of feet above sea
level, is daunting and while air travel undoubtedly offers certain benefits, it's far from the
universally "best" option.
When envisioning luxury and comfort in travel, aeroplanes often come to mind first. However, this
vision only holds true for a select few at an incredibly heavy cost. Travelling via planes is quoted
to be 26% more expensive compared to any other land transportation. Only the richest of the
richest can afford to spend 80000 rupees on a 6 hour flight across Europe, sitting in first-class,
while the others suffer with minimum leg-space, unsanitary washrooms and unsettling anxiety of
being airborne.
Imagine the confined environment of a plane compared to the unparalleled freedom of travel by
ship or yacht. While sea voyages are undeniably more time-consuming, they give you the
opportunity and liberty to walk around freely and breathe in fresh sea air. On the other hand, in
the tightly packed cabins of aeroplanes, designed to maximise profit for owners, patients facing
medical emergencies often have to deal with harsh conditions in accordance with airspace
limitations. Hijacks and heights are also constant fears that many air travellers are forced to
confront every time they wish to visit loved ones across the globe.
Many are quick to label air travel the quickest means of communication, often overlooking the
significant pre-boarding complexities. Even for a mere 40-minute inter-city flight, passengers are
typically mandated to arrive at the airport a full two hours early. Excluding the time taken up by
heavy traffic in bustling cities like Bangalore and Mumbai, in India.
Travelling via car gives you the space you need to take things at your own pace. Even if that
means taking a couple hours extra to reach your destination. At least your journey is comfortable
and fit according to your needs. Air travel's rigid schedule and early arrival requirements force
many people to move out of their comfort zones.
Despite efforts to improve adaptability for the specially-abled, air travel can present significant
accessibility challenges for individuals with disabilities or specific needs. Navigating huge airport
terminals, standing in long queues, and managing transfers between different modes of transport
to reach the gate can be incredibly exhausting. Although airlines provide assistance, the
experience often lacks spontaneity and requires a lot of pre-planning, which can feel restrictive at
the end of the day.
That being said, it is also true that airplanes are the most inclusive means of travel, providing
connections from one nook of the world to another. However, their environmental footprint is a
critical concern. Intercity buses also operate on tight schedules but are far more frequently
available and cause significantly less environmental damage. According to Mongabay News,
aeroplanes emit approximately 100 times more CO2 per hour than a shared bus or train ride.
Living in a time where climate change is worsening by the minute, it is incredibly important that
we start paying attention to nature around us; starting with more sustainable means of transport.
Drawing curtains on the topic, while it may be true that airplanes serve as bridges that connect
people across the world, they also include hidden travel time, complicated processes, and a
large carbon footprint. These drawbacks all point towards the direction that air travel is not the
most fair, comfortable, or universally ‘beneficial’ means of travel.