Page 130 - Introduction to Tourism

speed of jet travel have greatly expanded what tourists

or business travelers could once accomplish with the

equivalent time and funds at their disposal.
Today, for example, it is possible to fl y around the

globe in less time than it takes to drive across the

United States. The system is also incredibly efficient:
You need to make only one call to an airline or a travel

agent or get on the Internet to purchase a ticket to your

desired destination; then all you have to do is go to the

airport and check your bags through to the final
destination. The logistics that make it happen are

complex, but the system works well. For example,

United Airlines (including United Express and Ted)
offers over 3600 flights a day to 210 domestic and

international destinations.

Other airlines have similar structures and combine to

make a total system that blankets the world.
Although the major advantage of air travel is speed,

which results in more time for other activities, there are

negative aspects for those who wish to travel by air.
These include some people ’ s fear of flying and a lack

of geographic accessibility, since many communities in

the country are not served by air transportation. An
additional problem is the length of time spent getting to

and from the airport. Frequently, this time exceeds that

spent en route.

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