Getting from A to B is a universal problem, be it a hundred years ago or a bundred years from now. There is a want for not havin to sit on a ship for many days if your plane can cross the Atlantic in one day.

But prop planes could fit 10-30 passengers. Flying was very much a luxory even with the advent of jets.

So no, it wasn't a branding problem of calling it aeroplanes, but tickets being prohibitivly expensive.