In recent years the US airlines have employed about 600,000 FTE as an annual average. In addition, tourist air travel employs many millions around the world. So if you reduce air travel now by 50%, huge numbers of people lose their jobs and income to preserve the environmental future. Short term thinking usually prevails.
"...And makes us rather bear those ills we have,
Than fly to others that we know not of?
Thus conscience does make cowards of us all,
And thus the native hue of Resolution
Is sicklied o'er, with the pale cast of Thought,
And enterprises of great pitch and moment,
With this regard their Currents turn awry,
And lose the name of Action....."
The well off will pay more without complaint and build yet higher the wall between the haves and the have nots. It comes down to one's goals. What one wants to prioritize now and who will pay and suffer lifestyle change. The pandemic has shown us the income cost of reduced travel all across the world. Which is more important? Jobs now? The environment? Can we have both? It is a Sophie's choice?