A healthy living environment has value too. The point about taxing short-haul flight is that otherwise their pricing does not account for externalities that we collectively have to pay for. The absence of tax is effectively a subsidy.
Rail has several advantages, time-wise. Airports are far from city centres and security theatre takes a lot of time. Cheap flights also tend to use smaller, more remote airports because they are cheaper to use than big hubs close to large cities.
Rail has several advantages, time-wise. Airports are far from city centres and security theatre takes a lot of time. Cheap flights also tend to use smaller, more remote airports because they are cheaper to use than big hubs close to large cities.