Flying saves time, often getting you to your destination in a fraction of the time that driving or taking the train would. In addition, it can also be an economic alternative to other means of transport, as competition between airlines and low-cost carriers pushes prices down. Flying also allows you to stay in touch with friends and family who live in other parts of the country, or even around the world, by providing a less expensive and efficient way of getting from place to place.
Airlines provide a huge amount of today's industry, producing around $3.5 trillion per year, which amounts to 7.5 percent of the global GDP, according to the ESL Teacher's Board. In addition, airlines can also improve international, national and local economies, as 35 percent of all goods traded internationally are shipped by air, and 40 percent of all international tourism also takes place through airlines.
Linked to the economic benefits of airlines, airlines also benefit society through their production of jobs. According to the ESL Teacher's Board, airlines employ 32 million people around the world, contributing strongly to their overall economic impact. Not only do they contribute to international industry, but they also affect local industries and communities by offering jobs to local workers.
The proliferation and growth of airlines over the past several decades has also been a major factor in globalization. Not only are many goods and services traded because of air travel, but airlines also allow people to explore the world, teaching them about different cultures and ways of life and, in doing so, contributing to their educations. Airlines have also made programs such as the Peace Corps and study abroad courses more easily accessible to a wide variety of people.
