Aircraft consume a large amount of fuel on long-distance flights and pollute the atmosphere. The same amount of fuel could power cars for many years. Some people believe that we should discourage non-essential flights, such as tourist travel, rather than limit the use of cars. This essay will discuss this topic and argue that people should reduce unnecessary flights instead of restricting car usage.
One of the reasons why air travel should be discouraged is that airplanes produce significantly more CO₂ emissions per passenger than automobiles. To lift a 100-ton aircraft into the atmosphere, a very large amount of fuel is required. For example, a Boeing 737-800 uses about 1,500–1,900 liters of fuel per flight. Additionally, cargo planes consume between 6,000 and 9,000 liters of fuel, while cars, on average, use only 3.5–7 liters of petrol per 100 km. Major international airports handle an average of 200–700 flights per day, and these numbers only include passenger planes.
It is widely acknowledged that cars are essential for work, education, and daily needs. People use automobiles to commute to work, attend university, or go shopping. Furthermore, in recent years, electric cars have become increasingly popular. Compared to conventional vehicles, electric cars are much more environmentally friendly because they run on electricity instead of fuel and do not pollute the air.
In conclusion, it is clear that automobiles have a smaller environmental impact than aircraft. Therefore, we should discourage non-essential flights, as they can be replaced with cars or electric vehicles, which have little to no impact on air pollution.