I believe we're in for a paradigm change in transportation:
In my opinion there will be a significant decline in discretionary travel until a number of issues have been resolved. I believe there is little incentive by governments to exert down ward pressure on the price of Oil, the global environment can only benefit if there is a decline in the use of fossil fuel, many country's infrastructure is overburdened and they would like to get people out of their cars and into the trains and buses.
In aviation we are waiting for a leap forward with a new method of propulsion, we are again looking at the unducted fan as a way to become more fuel efficient but that is still the same technology.
I also believe that it is the intention of the industrialized countries of Europe and North America to lessen their dependence on Oil and the political implications of that. (Osama Bin Laden would not be half as dangerous without money as he is with it!)
I'm thinking of taking up sailing!
fluf