So is building and maintaining transportation networks of massive proportions on the ground. Somehow that never gets looked at, people just compare the running costs and completely ignore construction and maintenance. Plus the cost of all the deaths it causes, human and non-human. Plus the space it takes up and how it destroys environments. All these are costs.

Planes will not be a solution for all transportation needs, but where it makes sense they're great. A flying bus basically, routes can be very flexibly changed depending on evolving needs.