personnel, and lack of adequate inland warehousing facilities) affects port productivity adversely. Apart from the efficiency of its own operations, the productivity of a
port depends on the co-ordination of the operations of the various links in cargo
movement such as stevedores, truckers, consignees, railway etc.
1.2.11.4 Airports
Transport at low prices is important, but other factors which should or are considered
include simplicity, reliability and speed. In particular, air transport provides an
excellent example. These factors have made road transport popular because the
load owner obtains good facilities and, more or less, complete control over the
journey from beginning to end. For example, over short and medium journeys, a
farmer or merchant who wishes to use his truck has a certain control over his
departure and arrival times, in contrast to his arrangements made through a third
party such as the railway line, particularly if the required trips often change from day
to day. Transhipment hassles are also usually avoided.
Air travel has developed quite a lot, and passenger planes now travel over short
distances (100–200 km) as well as over longer trips (non-stop for some 12 hours
(8–10,000 km). Local circumstances and new technology have greatly increased the
role of air travel and its importance. In some countries, air cargo has made a
spectacular development due to fast changing markets overseas.
The transport of high value and perishable goods, business travel, and access to
difficult terrains have been improved, around the world, by air transport, given the
speed and time saved. Furthermore, as in many countries, national carriers no longer
have a monopoly and private air services are actively competing with other modes of
transport because they have become affordable. However, for short-haul flights, the
gain might be debatable because of time required between check-in and actual flight
departure. Even on a 800 km journey, the home to destination travel time by a high
speed train might be less than the air trip total time.
Far from being a mere mode of transportation for a selected few, air transport
contributes significantly to the national economy and plays an important role in
sustaining trade and tourism development. The civil aviation sector has perfectly
managed to cope with the growth of domestic and international traffic through four
categories of services, namely:
(1) regulatory,
(2) developmental,
(3) infrastructure, and
(4) operational.
1.2.11.5 The Relation of Transport to Other Activities
A region’s transport system determines its economic activity. Once this has been
studied, it is then possible to attempt at providing social improvements. Thus, the
1.2 Examples of Infrastructure
23
port depends on the co-ordination of the operations of the various links in cargo
movement such as stevedores, truckers, consignees, railway etc.
1.2.11.4 Airports
Transport at low prices is important, but other factors which should or are considered
include simplicity, reliability and speed. In particular, air transport provides an
excellent example. These factors have made road transport popular because the
load owner obtains good facilities and, more or less, complete control over the
journey from beginning to end. For example, over short and medium journeys, a
farmer or merchant who wishes to use his truck has a certain control over his
departure and arrival times, in contrast to his arrangements made through a third
party such as the railway line, particularly if the required trips often change from day
to day. Transhipment hassles are also usually avoided.
Air travel has developed quite a lot, and passenger planes now travel over short
distances (100–200 km) as well as over longer trips (non-stop for some 12 hours
(8–10,000 km). Local circumstances and new technology have greatly increased the
role of air travel and its importance. In some countries, air cargo has made a
spectacular development due to fast changing markets overseas.
The transport of high value and perishable goods, business travel, and access to
difficult terrains have been improved, around the world, by air transport, given the
speed and time saved. Furthermore, as in many countries, national carriers no longer
have a monopoly and private air services are actively competing with other modes of
transport because they have become affordable. However, for short-haul flights, the
gain might be debatable because of time required between check-in and actual flight
departure. Even on a 800 km journey, the home to destination travel time by a high
speed train might be less than the air trip total time.
Far from being a mere mode of transportation for a selected few, air transport
contributes significantly to the national economy and plays an important role in
sustaining trade and tourism development. The civil aviation sector has perfectly
managed to cope with the growth of domestic and international traffic through four
categories of services, namely:
(1) regulatory,
(2) developmental,
(3) infrastructure, and
(4) operational.
1.2.11.5 The Relation of Transport to Other Activities
A region’s transport system determines its economic activity. Once this has been
studied, it is then possible to attempt at providing social improvements. Thus, the
1.2 Examples of Infrastructure
23