There is no doubt that the rise of low-cost airlines in the 1970s and 1980s brought about major changes in the airline industry, even surpassing the influence of the Internet. Digitalization has revolutionized the way we book flights and plan trips, but the advent of mass-market air travel has fundamentally changed the definition of distance for those with wanderlust. By prioritizing affordability and accessibility above all else, low-cost airlines are effectively disrupting the luxury paradigm of the “golden age” of travel, allowing travelers to explore the world like never before. I did it like this.
It is therefore no coincidence that the price of air travel has fallen sharply since the 1950s and the number of seats available has doubled in just 15 years from 2004 to 2019. Advances in technology, such as jet engines, allowed airplanes to be built larger and larger. Flying further afield, no-frills airlines like EasyJet and Ryanair entered the market with bare-bones service and affordable price points.
But the impact of low-cost airlines resonated far beyond ticket prices. The company's rapid expansion and route development has connected previously underserved airports with population centers around the world, stimulating tourism and economic growth in new destinations.
Essentially, the rise of low-cost airlines has democratized air travel, transforming it from a luxury for the few to an affordable commodity. This seismic shift in the aviation industry has profoundly shaped the way we fly today, allowing us to travel farther and more often than ever before.
