With regards to the number of people with airship passes, we have to remember that our PCs are the minority of people in Eorzea. If you go just by the parts of the main scenario quest that can apply to all PCs, they're a subset (those who have fought Primals) of a subset (members or affiliates of the Scions) of a subset (people with the Echo) of a subset (adventurer members of a Grand Company) of a subset (adventurers) of people in Eorzea. If you put a 10% limit on each subset, the PCs are -- before getting into elements of the story where one might need to make elements generic -- .001% or less of the actual Eorzean population. I think it's fair to say airship passes could be granted and air travel used by that small group of people.
In short, I'd say don't worry about it. If you want to use airships, it fits with lore. If you'd prefer not to, that fits too. There's readily available lore-compatible options for whichever approach a player wants to take with their character.
EDIT: Yes, yes, I know that my percentages are straw men used as an example and that I'm including MSQ elements that happen after you get an airship pass, but the fact remains that PCs are a minority of Eorzeans, so it's relatively easy to have lore-compliant justification for one's possession of an airship pass.
In short, I'd say don't worry about it. If you want to use airships, it fits with lore. If you'd prefer not to, that fits too. There's readily available lore-compatible options for whichever approach a player wants to take with their character.
EDIT: Yes, yes, I know that my percentages are straw men used as an example and that I'm including MSQ elements that happen after you get an airship pass, but the fact remains that PCs are a minority of Eorzeans, so it's relatively easy to have lore-compliant justification for one's possession of an airship pass.
The Freelance Wizard
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((about me | about L'yhta Mahre | L'yhta's desk | about Mysterium, the Ivory Tower: a heavy RP society of mages))
Quality RP at low, low prices!
((about me | about L'yhta Mahre | L'yhta's desk | about Mysterium, the Ivory Tower: a heavy RP society of mages))