A leading French pilots' union is calling for strike action this Thursday to protest against a government proposal to triple the levy on flight tickets as part of wider plans to plug a hole in France's…
Barring some technical breakthrough, I am inclined to agree.
We can and should build extensive high-speed rail networks, though. This will provide intra-continental mobility at a price affordable for everyone. While gratuitous trips to the other side of the world will no longer be feasible, fast intra-continental trips can in many cases take their place. Flying can remain a niche for when it’s completely unavoidable, in which case we should be able to absorb the emissions.
Unfortunately, affordable long-distance travel for the poor is a relatively recent phenomenon. It may not last.
Barring some technical breakthrough, I am inclined to agree.
We can and should build extensive high-speed rail networks, though. This will provide intra-continental mobility at a price affordable for everyone. While gratuitous trips to the other side of the world will no longer be feasible, fast intra-continental trips can in many cases take their place. Flying can remain a niche for when it’s completely unavoidable, in which case we should be able to absorb the emissions.
That would be better than flying empty planes all over the place so airlines don’t lose their slots at airports.
That policy obviously needs to die a horrible death.