Essay 259 – Air travel has become a much cheaper form of transport

GT Writing Task 2 / Essay Sample # 259

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

In some countries, air travel has become a much cheaper form of transport than in the past. Some people say this is a positive development while others disagree.

Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Write at least 250 words.

Model Answer:

In many parts of the world, air travel has become an astonishingly cheaper mode of transport than ever before. Many contend that this is a positive development, yet others beg to differ. This essay will discuss both viewpoints, but personally, I think that it is a positive development.

On the one hand, cheap air travel brings about an exponential increase in the number of flights, thereby raising the substantial amount of jet fuel burnt each day. It results in a massive increase in carbon emissions, which means that cheap flights accelerate global warming. As a consequence of global warming, our climate is already commencing to change. This is why a series of environmental catastrophes have befallen the earth of late. Thus, cheap air travel is harmful to the environment.

On the other hand, cheap flights provide vital socio-economic benefits. First of all, it improves living standards by broadening individuals’ leisure and cultural experiences. In fact, cheap air travel offers a wide choice of tourist destinations across the globe and an economical means to visit distant relatives and friends. Besides, it stimulates sustainable development. By promoting tourism and trade, cheap flights generate job opportunities, economic growth, produce revenues from tax, and promote conservation of protected areas. According to a report published in the Financial Express in 2020, for example, 8.5 million jobs are created in the air transport industry due to the cheap plane fare, and this contribution to global GDP is US$ 189 billion. Thus, this essay finds that cheap air travel is a positive development.

In conclusion, although cheap flights have an environmental impact, I feel that it is a positive development in the sense that it reaps considerable socio-economic benefits. Therefore, governments should foster the air transport industries.