ABSTRACT
Air transport has grown at a tremendous pace since 1950 due to its speed and its ability to shrink distances. Remote regions are per definition separated from central areas by distance and should thus be expected to be particularly dependent on air transport. Many countries have large areas that would be more or less isolated if not for air transport. This isolation could be due to long distances or barriers such as mountain ranges or sea access to islands. Air transport thus contributes to these regions by making them less isolated than without air transport. The benefits of a high-speed travel mode like air transport may be reflected in many ways: industries are better off, income levels are higher, population development is more favourable and the feeling of being remote is lower than if there were no air service.
