be Prepared [theory] One s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things. air Unit 5 air Air travel & airports Henry Miller AIR TRAVEL disadvantages advantages affordable fast comfortable air traffic control airport control tower fare fleet hub low cost airline luggage storage and handling route runway taxiway terminal traffic runways + taxiways + terminals + control tower + other buildings at some distance from the city connections necessity of a vast space HUB = central point of air traffic for an airline company Air travel f the first big change in the history of tourism was brought about by rail 49 development, the second biggest change was due to the expansion of air transportation. In the 1950s flights became affordable and made it much easier to reach most of the worldwide countries, even the most remote ones. Countries like the Pacific Islands, for example, that were visited by few tourists due to the time necessary to reach the destination by boat, were able to set up a tourist industry that helped economic development as well. The last decade of the 20th century saw the introduction of another big change, the low cost airline phenomenon, that represents now about 25% of the total traffic. This incredible development has had some negative issues too. There are concerns about the pollution and environmental consequences caused by the increasing fuel consumption and the distance passengers have to travel to reach the airports. Some criticism has also pointed out the long time needed for security, the fluctuation of fuel price that can add an extra cost on air fares and the congestion in particular periods of the year, that can lead to delays and unpleasant travelling conditions. I Airports n airport is where one or more runways (for taking off and landing) and taxiways (for planes to move around) are located together with terminals or other buildings for passengers. Airports are normally located at some distance from the city and are connected to its centre by underground, light rail and taxi service. They require a vast space to accommodate all of the services necessary space for the planes, luggage storage and handling, security, air traffic control (control tower), catering services and passengers facilities. A hub is a central point of air traffic for an airline company. Most of the routes of an airline will depart and land in it, allowing passengers to reach a wider range of destinations. Hub airports make air traffic more rational, enabling airlines to use their fleet and capacity more efficiently. A 94 pollution long distance to reach the airport long time for security checks fluctuation of fuel price congestion AIRPORTS