Air transportation refers to the conveyance of people, mail and other material from one geographical area to another by using but not limited to aircraft. Aircrafts are one of the centuries old and the most popular vessels used in air transport. Other vessels such as hot air balloons also contribute to air transportation with their usage limited to tourism. Aircrafts or airplanes operate majorly in the earth’s atmosphere but at a considerable height above the ground. Air transportation continues to modify people’s travel habits and influences economic and socio-political environment of many nations. Rapid technological innovations contribute substantially to the modifications in aircraft development and the introduction of uniform communication and navigational systems. The continuous advancement in regulations of flight, international air agreements and conduct and regulatory bodies offer an international code of civil aircraft operation. In light of this, this paper discusses the importance of air transport and the various evolutions that have taken place in the air transport sector.

Air transportation is the fastest form of transport service available. Despite the fastness, airplanes have to regulate their speed because of the basic aerodynamic principle. Speed is the paramount advantage of the air transport over other forms of transport such as land and sea. Air transport has made people reach various parts of the world within the shortest possible duration; hence, bringing the world closer and closer than before (Daley, 2010). The efficiency of air transport together with its fastness makes it an appropriate means for transporting people, goods and mail that require urgency.

Air transportation creates a consumer market (Daley, 2010). Many nations all over the world continue to make use of the opportunities provided by air transport despite the expensiveness associated to it. The development of well-organized air-routes contributed significantly to the creation of consumer markets since the air-routes provide access to markets. For instance, air cargo established new commercial markets and contributed to the improvement foreign trade in various high cost goods (Daley, 2010).

Military importance has increased because of developments in air transport (Vasigh, Tacker, & Fleming, 2008). Despite airplanes carrying goods, mails and passengers, they are also carriers of weapons of war and military men. Airplanes maintain a form of high-speed transportation requirement of necessary countries in war and peace. The development of airways, navigational aids and ground organization is the most significant benefit derived by military aviation from civil aviation (Williams & Bråthen, 2010). The importance of air transportation in military activities usually forces governments to develop rapidly this form of transport as compared to other forms of transport. Additionally, air transport acts as international boarders to strengthen national security.

Air transport increases foreign exchange reserve (Vasigh, Tacker, & Fleming, 2008). National airlines can assist in saving foreign exchange. Receipts from foreign export freight, air expenditure by other airlines and travelers are a source of immense value in the form of foreign exchange. Long-haul aircrafts provide opportunities that attract tourists who bring with them foreign exchange. This, in turn, leads to economic benefits usually enjoyed by developing countries (Vasigh, Tacker, & Fleming, 2008). Air transport as a stimulant to international trade and tourism facilitates the achievement of economic goals in these countries.

Another importance of air transport is the reduction in transit time of transportation (Williams & Bråthen, 2010). This is extremely significant in boosting economic activities. For example, commercial and official trading activities are performed at fastest time since air transport is available. Essentially, good international understanding is necessary for the well-being of individuals. This demands top dignitaries of nations to visit each other’s nations to assemble regional or international economic summits. This is only possible due to the existence of air transport. This form of transport provides considerable savings in time and plays a critical role where land or sea transport is inadequate.

According to researches, approximately 80 per cent of alternative fuels are suitable and can help in achieving the goals of air transportation sector in the US (Daley, 2010). This is a significant development meant to inhibit air pollution related to air transport. These researches also state that biofuels from biomass such as jatropha, camelina and algae can reduce the carbon dioxide amounts in the atmosphere by 80 per cent over their entire life cycle (Daley, 2010). Analysis of these researches implied that carbon dioxide levels would reduce by 5% if commercial airlines were to have 6 per cent of their fuel from biofuel by 2020.

The Baggage Improvement Program (BIP) is a development in air transport (Williams & Bråthen, 2010). Statistics from previous studies revealed that baggage mishandling rates reduced by 47 per cent from 2007. Thee IATA Baggage Improvement Program (BIP) contributed to the reduction in mishandling rates. Apparently, good bag management at check-ins can considerably reduce bag mishandling. Educating passengers on how to pack fragile goods is also important in reducing damages on goods. Tracking is another issue along with BIP program used to determine if luggage has arrived at an airport (Vasigh, Tacker, & Fleming, 2008). As such, airline authorities scan all bags along the flight to reveal where they in the system.

Passenger Advisory at Security Screening (PASS) is another development in air transportation that displays a vast number of multimedia information at one time (Vasigh, Tacker, & Fleming, 2008). This technology has various features, which at the request of airports assist passengers in security checkpoints. The information displayed by this system includes news headlines, advertisements, instant messages and warnings, and audible alerts.

In conclusion, technology plays an essential role in the development of air transport. Air transport is extremely important in the current times of economic crisis since they create consumer market, increase foreign savings and reduce transit time. The advancements in air transport include but not limited to PASS and BIP. These developments ensure safety of goods transported by air.

References

Daley, B. (2010). Air Transport and the Environment. New York: Ashgate Publishing, Ltd.

Vasigh, B., Tacker, T., & Fleming, K. (2008). Introduction to Air Transport Economics: From Theory to Applications. New York: Ashgate Publishing, Ltd.

Williams, G., & Bråthen, S. (2010). Air Transport Provision in Remoter Regions. New York: Ashgate Publishing, Ltd.