Airports WorldWide

Informed travelers favor air travel because it's faster and less accident prone than other methods of travel. Air travelers can reach most domestic destinations in hours; international travel seldom takes more than 24 hours. Travel also benefits the economy, as well as additional aid to safety and health. Without air travel, much of the world's cultural life and diversity wouldn't exist.

Speed

Air travel is the fastest method of transport around, and can cut hours or days off of a trip. Transoceanic travel would be a factor of months without planes, and numerous rural zones can't be reached without it. As the WV Department of Aviation says, "One to two days travel by auto can be accomplished in one to two hours of flight." The speed of air travel also allows the transport of critical materials like organs and necessary medications to patients in urgent need. Without flight, the pace of both business and pleasure would slow down considerably.

Efficiency

The air travel industry creates employment for millions of mechanics, pilots, stewards, customer service representatives, and designers. There are also indirect jobs like airport retail services, airline catering, rental car facility staffing, and security. According to the Air Transport Action Group, "The air transport industry directly generates 5.5 million jobs globally and contributes USD 408 billion to global GDP." These jobs often offer free or discounted travel, health care coverage and pensions for those who qualify, making a positive contribution to the lives of both employees and their families.

Cultural Exchange

Flying has made the world a smaller and more accessible place. Since far travel only takes a matter of hours by jet, it's feasible and practical for a young person to pursue college in the States, even if she's from Australia. It's also a benefit for business, because it allows qualified specialists to take employment where they're needed most. Air travel also brings tourists to sections of the world that can greatly benefit from traveler dollars. In the instance of the African nation of Botswana, the Air Transport Action Group states that "foreign visitors spent almost USD 1 billion dollars in Botswana in 2007, almost three times more than [in 2002]" due to expanded air travel access.