Powered by crystal driven engines, the FFXI airships are an inspiration of the genius engineer, Cid. The distinctive gyratory wings mean that the airships can takeoff almost vertically and land in a similar manner. So they virtually use very little space for taking off and landing.
It is said that the FFXI airships were originally designed to use as a secret weapon against the Dark Lords's forces during the Great War. But, due to the abrupt conclusion of the war, they never actually tasted the original battles.
Later on, the credit for turning the Final Fantasy XI airships into a mode of transportation goes to the proactive Archduke of Jeuno. He was responsible for forming an 'air travel agency' which took up the charge of making traveling and cargo sending easier through air-travel. This move effectively blurred the borders of the three powerful nations to bring them closer to each other.
The airships are beyond doubt the fastest mode of traveling today. An airship would get you from one destination to another in a matte or 3-5 minutes, which is nothing compared to the chocobos, ferries or traveling on foot, so they are worth every Gil they cost for a ride. Yeah right, they cost Gil. 200 Gil to be precise.
Before you try to rush into an FFXI airship, remember that you have to get an airship pass from the chamber of commerce. This pass will also cost you a bit but that's a one time requirement, and it is still cheaper than teleportation. Another way to get the pass is to get to the Rank 5, then you can get the pass for free. Bear in mind, the airships are only for transportation; you do not get to pilot one, so no messing around.
