Chapter 7 Air Transport| Class 12 Geography Notes

Air transportation is the movement of people, goods, and mail by aircraft, such as airplanes and helicopters. It’s one of the fastest ways to travel internationally and is often used for shipping products that need fast delivery. Air transportation is also useful during natural disasters, wars, and other emergencies. As a cornerstone of modern transportation, air transport continues to shape the way we connect and interact with the world. Today, more than 250 commercial airlines offer regular services to different parts of the world.

In this article, we will look into the meaning of Air Transport. We will also discuss different types of air transport and inter-continental air routes. This is an important concept in Class 12 Geography. Students can go through this article to get comprehensive notes on “ Air Transport”.

Air transport is the movement of people, goods, or mail by aircraft, including airplanes and helicopters. It’s one of the fastest ways to travel internationally and is efficient for long distances, high-value payloads, and immediate needs. Air transport can be classified by Means of air transport, Type of cargo moved, National and international flights, and Regular and non-regular flights. Some types of air transport include Air freight transport, International air transport, and Air transport of dangerous goods.

Air transport is a major part of globalization, transporting around 4 billion passengers and 61 million tons of freight each year. However, air transport is also a major consumer of energy, with aircraft emissions contributing to greenhouse gas emissions and climate change.

The types of air transport are:

1. Commercial Airlines: These are passenger airlines operated by private companies or state-owned enterprises, offering scheduled flights between different cities and countries.
2. Cargo Airlines: These airlines specialize in transporting freight and cargo, including goods, mail, and other materials, often using dedicated cargo aircraft.
3. Charter Airlines: Charter airlines offer flights on a charter basis, catering to specific groups or individuals who rent the entire aircraft for a particular trip or purpose.
4. Military Aviation: Military air transport involves the use of aircraft for defense and strategic purposes, including troop transport, reconnaissance, and air support.
5. General Aviation: This includes private and recreational flying, as well as business aviation, where small aircraft are used for personal or business travel by individuals or companies.

Inter-continental air routes primarily follow an east-west belt in the Northern Hemisphere, with dense networks in Eastern USA, Western Europe, and Southeast Asia.

• The USA accounts for 60% of the world’s airways, with major cities like New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago serving as nodal points for air routes connecting all continents.
• Cities like London, Paris, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Rome, Moscow, Karachi, New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangkok, Singapore, and Tokyo also serve as vital hubs for inter-continental air travel.
• However, Africa, parts of Russia, and South America lack comprehensive air services, while limited services exist in the Southern Hemisphere between latitudes 10-35 due to sparse population and limited economic development.

Some examples of air transport are:

Commercial Airlines

• Delta Air Lines: Major American airline serving domestic and international destinations.
• Emirates: UAE-based airline renowned for its luxurious services and extensive global network.

Cargo Airlines

• FedEx Express: Leading global courier delivery services company operating a vast fleet of cargo aircraft.
• UPS Airlines: Parcel delivery company with a dedicated air cargo division serving worldwide destinations.

Charter Airlines

• NetJets: Private jet fractional ownership and rental company catering to business and leisure travelers.
• Air Charter Service: Provides on-demand charter flights for individuals and corporations worldwide.

Military Aviation

• United States Air Force (USAF): Branch of the U.S. Armed Forces responsible for aerial warfare and defense operations.
• Royal Air Force (RAF): UK’s aerial warfare service, involved in both defense and humanitarian missions.

General Aviation

• Cessna Aircraft Company: Manufacturer of small general aviation aircraft, including single-engine and business jets.
• Gulfstream Aerospace: Producer of luxury business jets favored by corporate executives and high-net-worth individuals.

Air transport, with its rapid speed and global reach, serves as a lifeline connecting distant places and people worldwide. It revolutionizes travel and trade, offering swift transportation for passengers and cargo. Despite its higher cost, air transport provides unparalleled efficiency and accessibility, shrinking the world and promotes international cooperation. As an important component of modern transportation, it facilitates economic growth, cultural exchange, and emergency response efforts.

People Also View:

• Write a short Note on Airways in India
• Transport System in India
• Why is Air Travel preferred in North Eastern States of India?

What is meant by air transport?

Air transport is the movement of people, goods, and mail by aircraft, such as planes and helicopters. It’s the fastest way to travel, making it ideal for shipping products within the supply chain that need to be delivered quickly and efficiently.

Why is air transport important?

Air transport is important for economic growth and development because it facilitates integration into the global economy, promotes tourism, and creates employment opportunities.

What is air transport in India?

Air transport in India is the movement of people, goods, and mail by aircraft. In India, air transport is nationalized and is provided by Alliance Air, Indian airlines, private scheduled airlines, and non-scheduled operators.

What is an example of air transport?

Air transport is the transportation of passengers and freight by air using vehicles such as planes, jets, helicopters, hot air balloons, blimps, gliders, hang gliders, parachutes, and anything else that can sustain flight.

Who invented air transport?

The Wright brothers, Orville and Wilbur, are credited with inventing the first successful airplane in 1903. 

Why air transport is the fastest?

Air transport is the fastest mode of transportation because it can travel without physical barriers, traffic jams, and environmental resistance.