Technological development has made travelling by air affordable, encouraging the use of this medium. However, frequent flying means burning more and more fossil fuel, and generating more pollution, raising an alarm among environmentalists, persuading them to suggest raising the air-tariff to curtail this situation, while some hold a contrary view.
Some experts feel that raising the air travel fare could help reduce pollution, as increased air ticket fare would make travelling by air unaffordable for the masses, because the expenditure incurred on air tickets would be beyond the reach of many. Reduced crowds would force the airlines to scale down operations significantly, which would in-turn, lead to significant drop in the rate of release of pollutants into the environment.
However, some feel that this move would prove ineffective, because most use this medium to travel to distant destinations that cannot be reached comfortably and safely. Raising air travel tariff would, although affect the travelers financially, they would not abandon travelling by air. Besides this, this mode has become a habit for many. To corroborate, in countries like the USA, a majority prefers flying rather than boarding a train or a Greyhound bus; they have got used to this routine.
Similarly, low air fares - in a way, has empowered everyone, regardless of their socioeconomic backgrounds, engendering equality - have enabled even those who could not imagine flying in the past over long distances to fulfill their needs: meet their loved one, undertake leisure travel, gain education, treatment, or access employment opportunities, among others.
In conclusion, I feel that raising air fares cannot help mitigate environmental challenges, but these allow even common people to meet their needs. The need of the hour is to develop such technologies which help in reducing the release of pollutants into air.
