French pilots' union calls strike over planned tripling of flight taxes (www.rfi.fr)
from Joker@sh.itjust.works to world@lemmy.world on 14 Nov 2024 08:16
https://sh.itjust.works/post/28074502

#world

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GissaMittJobb@lemmy.ml on 14 Nov 2024 08:33 collapse

Normally I will default to siding with workers, but I’m not siding with the pilots on this one. No way.

Oneser@lemm.ee on 14 Nov 2024 11:31 next collapse

I’m lost in the air travel debate and it sucks. Ignoring the strike and pilots specific concerns, IMHO:

  • Emissions of flights are horrendous and will be viewed as barbaric in 30+ years. It needs to stop.
  • Denying those of a lower income the opportunity to partake in air travel is also horrendous, and should not be the main mechanism to disrupt the industry.
  • There are, in many cases, no alternatives to air travel, so it cannot be abolished.

Smarter regulation is needed, but the finite details will likely never suit a majority of people.

GissaMittJobb@lemmy.ml on 14 Nov 2024 11:37 collapse

Actual emissions taxing is basically a necessary step when it comes to air travel - currently, the fuel is completely tax free and that’s not great. Take all of that money and pump it directly into rail, which is the actual way forward for intra-continental travel.

It will get more expensive and less accessible for lower income people. There’s just really no way around that.

FlyingSquid@lemmy.world on 14 Nov 2024 12:17 collapse

Unfortunately, affordable long-distance travel for the poor is a relatively recent phenomenon. It may not last.

GissaMittJobb@lemmy.ml on 14 Nov 2024 13:00 collapse

Barring some technical breakthrough, I am inclined to agree.

We can and should build extensive high-speed rail networks, though. This will provide intra-continental mobility at a price affordable for everyone. While gratuitous trips to the other side of the world will no longer be feasible, fast intra-continental trips can in many cases take their place. Flying can remain a niche for when it’s completely unavoidable, in which case we should be able to absorb the emissions.

Semi_Hemi_Demigod@lemmy.world on 14 Nov 2024 13:40 collapse

That would be better than flying empty planes all over the place so airlines don’t lose their slots at airports.

GissaMittJobb@lemmy.ml on 14 Nov 2024 14:13 collapse

That policy obviously needs to die a horrible death.

dan1101@lemm.ee on 14 Nov 2024 13:20 collapse

Yeah when you look at a flight tracker site it’s easy to conclude that this amount of air traffic can’t be good for the air.