What are the implications of banning all commercial air travel?

Question

What are the economic (and social) implications of banning all commercial air travel globally and would the benefit to the environment outweigh the cost?

(note: this question is not about the feasability of banning all air travel)

Answer 1

Well assuming that business can still be done via the airways...the greatest economic cost would seem to be to the tourism industry. Many nations probably would be greatly affected as a result. Although you do note this isnt about feasability, one would assume the incredible loss in tourism dollars would be a pretty large blow to the world economic system. One could probably argue investment would fall in countries where tourism has a large part in the countries economy. Again although you establish it is not a feasbility question, one would seem to think that as interconnected as global economics are today that just the loss of tourism (which is a big thing and certainly not the only thing) would be pretty disasterous in and of itself.

Socially if we assume im wrong and the world keeps on spinning without all of those tourism dollars, there is still a pretty heavy social impact. In the realm of religion it would be very problematic immediatly for anyone who wants to make a pilgrimage to religious locations they cannot reach, either via the difficulty involved in loss of air travel or likely increased expense for land/sea travel. Likewise one would assume national sporting events such as the olympics/world cup....etc would have a pretty large impact.

Lastly however i have a hunch there would be a dramatic decrease in world awareness of world events and a loss in charitable donations. I think people tend to get involved because issues have an impact on their world in some way, and not that i doubt the charitablity or passion of humanity at large, but certainly over time would could reasonably assume as attention is increasingly focused on areas that one can visit or might have an influence on....extraneous or global issues might be set aside.

Answer 2

Economic impact: Hundreds of thousands to millions of jobs lost - pilots, flight attendants, aero-engineers, all personnel at companies such as Boeing and Delta (the companies that make the planes), mechanics, all airport personnel (as airports would shut-down), food industry employees (those who supply both the airports and the planes), janitorial staff, fueling staff, etc. Where will these people go? When jobs are lost, especially on a mass scale, the dollars represented by their wages and salaries that were previously pumped into the economy will cease to do so. This creates a depressed economy, and the impact is further felt by other industries. Groceries, clothing, cars, real estate, entertainment, etc...all the things we take for granted in a developed society will feel the sharp impact of the lost influx of dollars. It becomes a downward spiral as those industries, in turn, must lay off employees because they don't have the incoming money to fund payroll. The economic implications would be disastrous for any society.

These implications don't even take into consideration the loss of income for people who need to travel to other cities or countries to do business. More jobs lost as a result of inability to do business on a global scale.

As for the social implications, ever hear of the Great Depression? When the market crashed, there was an immediate and sharp distinction between classes. Only the super-rich were able to hold onto some semblance of normalcy. They had the wherewithall to continue in life with only minimum impact. But those who were only wealthy or middle class or lower were hit severely and bore the brunt of the depression. They were completely ostracized in a society that already looked down on them. Friendships were strained and familes were destroyed due to the stressful conditions they were forced into. Cultural, recreational and educational pursuits such as theater, art, sports, movies, etc. all but ceased to exist for the lower classes. The gap between the upper and lower classes widened, depressing the culture further...not only economically but socially. And the worst consequence of the depression was the loss of life: death from starvation, exposure to the elements, and suicide as a result of depression and loss of livelihood. It was a severe social toll.

These social implications don't even take into consideration that familes and friends wouldn't be able to see each other in person very often. They would suffer as a result...socially, emotionally, psychologically, and physically.

Personally, I think the economic and social costs are far too high to justify the banning of commercial air travel. Yes, the costs to the environment may exist because of the burning of jet fuel, but if you substitute an alternate form of transportation (such as ships and trains), you're still burning some sort of fuel that will impact the environment. It may be worse because it would take longer to get from point A to point B. So maybe commercial air travel isn't so bad afterall. I think we can address environmental issues in ways that wouldn't have devastating economic and social impact.

Answer 3

it isn't puzzling to blow up an airplane. If i extremely had to, i ought to convey explosive chemical compounds on board saved in separate 3-oz..tubes of toothpaste, blend them jointly contained in the lavatory, and blow a hollow contained in the nearest window via igniting the blend with a spark from a paper clip and a 9 volt battery. Is the FAA going to outlaw toothpaste and batteries on airplanes now? faster or later, passengers ought to conform to jointly believe one yet another.

Answer 4

*** Economy: 10% decline in global GDP

Hundreds of thousands of jobs lost worldwide - in aviation, airport maintenance, airplane manufacturing, aluminum production.

Huge blow to tourism industry, especially badly felt in poorest nations of Carribean and Pacific.

Slowdown in the developed economies due to lack of face-to-face contact, express mail, and deliveries of critical components.

Most of victims are developing economies of SE Asia, as their export and outsoucing are core of the economy.

*** Socially

Increased isolation of nations, creating hostility and potential for wars (military aircraft are still on as far as I understand)

Disruption of family ties.

And do not forget evironmental damage from expanding railroad network and increase travel by boat, hovercraft or wing-in-ground vehicles.


On the plus side, we get like 5% decline in greenhouse gas emissions, plus whatever benefits of reduced aluminum production and generally slower economic activity.

Answer 5

Err..no more parcels from Grandma at Christmas?