What will AIRLINE travel be like in 50 years?

Question

Today I read an article about an airline charging money to use a pillow and a blanket.

One day air travelers will look back at today's airline travel and laugh. Things are getting ridiculous.

Technologywise and servicewise, what will be the big changes in 50 years?

Will 747's still be around in 50 years? What craft will be the norm? What about the accomodations and comfort? What about the time of travel?

Many questions rolled up into one question. Would like to hear your views. Thanks!

Answer 1

Space tourism is now starting with Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic starting in apro 18 month's. Going up into space for four to five min. This is going to lead to more public trips into space and eventually airline/spaceline travel in orbit this is a cost effective idea because you use scram jet tech (mixing fuel with atmospheric gases to produce thrust)   then once in orbit the engines cut off using no fuel for anything other then the APU (auxiliary power unit) unless they are using solar power. This will make a trip from New York to Tokyo possible in two hours. The future looks bright for airlines even though it's bleak now.

Answer 2

In the US, it will be like taking a ride on Greyhound (i.e. bus).

Answer 3

Consider this:

If you had asked this question in 1958, and I told you that there would be B-747-400ER flying 8000 miles non-stop with 350 people, and that there would be a double-decker that was larger than that, and that most cities in the US would have jet aircraft service would you have believed me? Probably not. Therefore, I will just tell you that things will change and you will have to wait and see.

Regards,

Dan

Answer 4

only time can tell btw things are looking right now. but expect it to be more advanced

Answer 5

Over the past 200 years, the speed at which humans have traveled has increased by a factor of 10.

We ended the 18th centruy traveling on avg of 6 miles an hour , the 19th centry, about 60 mph, the 20the centrury was about 600mph.

Based on this, the end of the 21st centrury, average travel speed should be in the area of 6000mph, which is around the speed proposed by SCRAMJETS, so who knows what will happen.

Answer 6

IT WILL POSITIVELY BE FASTER AND MORE ECONOMICAL. AND FROM THE ATC PERSPECTIVE, IT WILL BE A "FREE FLIGHT" OR NOT ANYMORE SUBJECT TO ANY CONTROL FOR SEPARATION TO SAFELY FLY FROM POINT OF DEPARTURE TO DESTINATION.