Some people say cheap air travel is good because it enables ordinary people to travel, while others argue that it is bad for the environment. Discuss both views, and include your opinion.
In the past air travel was only for the elite – the rich, the powerful, the privileged. Today, hundreds of millions of people are able to travel around the world for work or pleasure. As Air Asia’s slogan puts it: “Now everyone can fly.” However, the price to be paid for this easier travel may be damage to the environment. In this essay, I will examine some of the arguments for and against cheap air travel.
There are plenty of accusations against cheap flights. Critics of budget air travel claim that the emissions from jet fuel are damaging the atmosphere. This is particularly serious at the higher levels of the atmosphere where modern jets fly. A single short flight from Dubai to Mumbai can produce as much carbon dioxide as one month’s driving for a family. The environmental cost continues when the tourists land, as hotels, leisure and other facilities are very significant polluters and consume a lot of resources. A third point of course is that this travel is mostly ‘unnecessary’ and people would simply stay at home if the flights were not so cheap.
However, the proponents of cheap air travel, such as Ireland’s Michael O’Leary, have their own powerful counterclaims. First, they reject the allegation that jets contribute significantly to global warming. They point out that modern jets are much quieter and much more fuel-efficient than in the past. Secondly, many countries already have carbon taxes or levies included in the price of the airline ticket or aviation fuel. This can offset the carbon produced during the flight. In addition, most of the arguments against cheap flights are based on the belief that it is acceptable for certain people to fly, but not for ordinary people. In other words, the wealthy or powerful would like to deprive ordinary people of the right to travel, to see new places and meet new people.
In conclusion, cheap air travel is not a clear-cut issue, but a political, economic and environmental minefield. In my opinion, everyone should have the opportunity to travel, but we do need some monitoring of the effect on the environment, both in the air and on the ground.
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Essay 1
From: http://www.scribd.com/doc/6762881/Good-Model-IELTS-Essay (Essay 12)
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 exhaustion of the world’s valuable energy resources. To my mind, it does not make much sense to restrict air travel…
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Essay 2
From http://kiransielts.blogspot.com/2010/09/some-people-believe-that-air-travel.html
It is irrefutable that air travel causes pollution and uses a lot of fuel, bit I disagree that air travel should be restricted. Restricting air travel would solve some problems but would lead to many other problems….
Visit http://kiransielts.blogspot.com/2010/09/some-people-believe-that-air-travel.html for the complete essay
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Essay 3
From: http://www.essayforum.com/writing-feedback-3/air-travel-creates-great-deal-pollution-consumes-resources-19740/
In today’s world many people consider visiting different places during their vacation as a valuable and exciting experience of life. Due to lack of time and to have a luxurious feeling many consider traveling by air to other means of transport. However, it is believed such transportation causes extreme pollution and also uses a large amount of resources available. This essay emphasizes on some of the facts associated with air travel….
Visit http://www.essayforum.com/writing-feedback-3/air-travel-creates-great-deal-pollution-consumes-resources-19740/ for the complete essay. You can read comments and feedback by other IELTS students on the essay.