Air travel, once a privilege of the wealthy, has been gaining popularity worldwide over the last few decades. The number of people traveling by air has been growing by leaps and bounds. Some environmentalists, however, propose that air travel be limited, on the ground that it may give rise to a series of problems, including pollution and exhaustion¹ of the world’s valuable energy resources. To my mind, it does not make much sense to restrict air travel.

The most important and obvious reason is that no other vehicle can travel as fast as an airplane. In other words, air travel may be the only and easiest option when it comes to long-distance trips. For example, if a student from China wishes to go to the United States for further studies, the only means of transportation that could send him to the destination is undoubtedly² the plane. Also, for people traveling on a regular basis, such as those engaged in transnational business, air travel would mean less time on the road. This will certainly enable them to better prepare for their future tasks, such as business negotiations³, both mentally and physically⁴.

In addition, air travel offers the comfort that cannot be found elsewhere. Most people, who have the experience of traveling by air, are bound to miss the snacks and drinks served on board, as well as the smiles on the faces of flight attendants. In some cases, you could even enjoy a favorite movie while on a plane, completely unaware⁵ that you are hundreds of thousands of feet above ground.

Last but not least, it is important to bear in mind that air travel is simply a personal choice and should be respected. This clearly means that any attempt to restrict air travel would be seen as a violation⁶ of human rights and is both groundless and unjustified.

In summary, despite the various problems arising from air travel, it should not be limited or eliminated. What we should do is to give full play to the function of air travel, by maximizing its benefits while trying to come up with practical solutions to the existing problems, such as developing fuel-efficient airplanes and alternative energy resources.