# The future of air travel?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-future-of-air-travel/516613>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [November 6, 2009, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-future-of-air-travel/516613 "2009-11-06T17:59:38Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\
**Post date:** [November 7, 2009, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-future-of-air-travel/516613/21 "2009-11-07T04:04:47Z")

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I wonder how super high-speed rail (c.f., a train in a vacuum-sealed tube, so no drag) will compete with hypersonic airliners, in about 50 year’s time…

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**Author:** ![Alex\_Dubinsky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dbc845/32.png) [@Alex\_Dubinsky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alex_Dubinsky)\
**Post date:** [November 7, 2009, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-future-of-air-travel/516613/22 "2009-11-07T04:39:04Z")

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> [@Zsofia](#):
>
> Yeah, it would really be nice if you only flew coast to coast or international and took a high speed train for shorter trips - unless they fucked up the security like they have in aviation it would probably take less time when you come down to it.

It’s too bad the train system is all monopolies and vested powers. The principle of rail is very efficient, but because there isn’t a highly competitive market the way there is for airlines, it doesn’t translate into much real world gain.

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**Author:** ![Alex\_Dubinsky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dbc845/32.png) [@Alex\_Dubinsky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alex_Dubinsky)\
**Post date:** [November 7, 2009, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-future-of-air-travel/516613/23 "2009-11-07T04:44:13Z")

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Besides, it’s not like the whole cost of the ticket goes into fuel. A large chunk does. 25% of operating expenses go into fuel (as % of ticket it is less, considering margins). Maintenance, airports, etc., take money too. Even if fuel cost increases by a factor of 10, ticket prices will merely triple. Noone will be driving on $30 gas, but people will still be flying.

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