Airplanes have revolutionized the way we travel, making the world seem like a smaller place because of reduced travel times. Traditional methods of travel, such as by boat or ship, still exist but are not depended upon as the primary option. The increasing number of air carriers have also introduced competition and price reductions.
Most vacationers and travelers are able to travel for only limited amounts of time because of obligations to work. Limited vacation time has increased the importance of quick, hassle-free travel. Air travel facilitates this, allowing individuals the option to travel across the world in a matter of hours, where as sea travel would make the trip last a number of days or weeks. Previously, travelers would have to analyze the distance of their trip and determine whether sea travel would provide enough time to enjoy their vacation. Now, vacationers can book a plane ticket one day and be in their destination of choice the next day.
Air travel remains one of the safest methods of travel available to passengers today. Safety regulations on planes and pilot expertise have reduced the amount of flight accidents. Air travel generally avoids most weather patterns by flying above the clouds, which makes the trip safe and unaffected by storm activity. Sea travel, on the other hand, is directly affected by any weather changes, which create wind or cause large waves, sometimes making the voyage tedious and dangerous. Sea travel has to be closely navigated to avoid any dangerous rock formations or ice flow, while air travel has fewer such dangers.
Demand for air travel has increased the number of domestic and international carriers that are available, creating many choices when selecting a flight and destination. Air travel is no longer a luxury option for travel. Competition between carriers has meant that customers can choose the carrier that is the most inexpensive or has first class options at a reasonable price. The reduced costs have removed the main advantage to sea travel, when you consider that luxury liners are expensive, and traditional boat options are less comfortable and more time consuming.
