see
http://www.parabolicarc.com/2009/05/07/whitehorn-pointtopoint-terrestrial-travel-20-years/Virgin Galactic President Will Whitehorn has been making predictions about the future of travel this week:
Long-haul trips could be made in spaceships instead of planes in 20 years’ time if Virgin’s efforts to commercialize space travel succeed, the president of Virgin Galactic told Reuters in an interview.
Will Whitehorn said Virgin’s plans to take tourists into space were just a first stage that could open up a range of possibilities for the company including space science, computer server farms in space and replacing long-haul flights.
He also said it was possible that additional investors could be involved in Virgin Galactic’s business.
“We perceive the possibility we will be able to bring an investor in,” he said. “I think there will be a wall of money that goes into private space.”