Following the dramatic highjackings two weeks ago, and the resulting dramatic decline in both air travel and the airline industry, many companies and business people are moving to replace business travel with telecommuting. Although video- and teleconferencing technology have been around for several decades, recent advances in internet-based telecommuting have made it much cheaper and more convenient. With the increase in costs, time delays, and scheduling inconveniences associated with flying, many companies are deciding that old face-to-face methods of doing business are no longer practicable over long distances.
See JAMES R. HEALEY, USA Today, September 25, 2001