Opinions are divided on whether budget-friendly air travel should be promoted as it provides ordinary individuals with the opportunity to travel greater distances, or airfare should be raised to mitigate environmental damage. Although the former option offers cost-effective solutions for the average traveler, I support the latter because conservation of the environment is of greater importance.
On the one hand, affordable flights provide ordinary individuals with greater flexibility to travel to more distant locations. This is predicated on the assumption that reducing plane ticket prices opens opportunities for a wider range of people to explore destinations previously out of reach due to their financial difficulties. For example, in the past, travel was generally regarded as a luxury accessible only to those with significant financial resources. However, with the emergence of budget airlines, it has become increasingly feasible for families with modest incomes to take vacations abroad.
However, I contend that air travel should be more expensive because this helps safeguard the environment. In other words, the lower the cost of flying, the more likely it is that individuals will fly for reasons that may not always be necessary. This increased number of flights can lead to greater greenhouse gas emissions, which are a major contributor to air pollution. Due to the recent increase in budget airlines in Vietnam, air traffic in major cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi minh city has significantly increased, directly worsening the overall air quality. Thus, raising ticket prices could lead to a decline in unnecessary flights and, ultimately, a reduction in environmental impact.
To conclude, while budget-friendly flights indeed offer greater travel opportunities for individuals, I believe that increasing the cost of air travel would be a better approach for the long-term goal of environmental preservation.