Cheap Flights
Sat, 2006-10-14 12:04
#1
Cheap Flights
The BBC breakfast programme this morning had several reports on low cost flights, and their impact on the environment. This was prompted by a news item that Zoom, who already operate low cost flights from the UK to Canada, are planning to open up routes to the USA and Carribean.
There were proposals for increasing taxes on flying, to offset the increasing levels of carbon emissions from aircraft. While I agree that we should be doing more to protect the environment, I couldn't help feeling that the unspoken agenda from the middle class contributors was "Let's keep the plebs in Blackpool and Southend, I don't want them despoiling Prague or Florence".
flash
"Let's keep the plebs in Blackpool and Southend, I don't want them despoiling Prague or Florence".
Florence put it about a bit , does she :-0S?
hox
Florence put the art in tart.
justyn_thyme
And if they were aware that the particulates from jet exhaust are keeping global warming from melting the ice cap by Thursday they might not be in such a hurry to restrict the flights.
BTW, Prague was already ruined ten years ago. Florence and Venice have been been tourist traps for centuries years. Florence is not even a particularly attractive city. No idea why it has this fab reputation.
"You don't need the light of the Lord to read the handwriting on the wall." Copies of Warsaw Tales available through www.new-ink.org
tcook
Florence has a fab reputation because of the Uffizi and Pitti Art Galleries that are worth hours of queueing to see. It has pretty bits about it as well.
Venice is still magnificent so long as you get away from St Marks Square.
You forget that the problems in these cities are not caused by tourism per se but by the 'instant tourist'. These are the people who are doing the 'highlights' of Europe tour - 27 capital cities in only 14 days. They are mainly Americans but you do get other nationalities. Just avoid them and the rest is pretty good. I suppose we should thank them as they attract all the conmen, sharks and rogues of the world and that means we get left alone.
As for cheap air travel, the pollution argument is so strong that we must begin to restrict it soon - and bring down rail fares. I can fly to Rome for £30 but it will cost me a minimum of £300 to go there by train. That is clearly ludicrous.
archergirl
Plus going by train is soooo much more fun. The bonus is, if it crashes, you stand a slightly better chance of surviving than if your plane goes down. Not that I'm paranoid or anything.