Getting to Mars from Earth is difficult, even in 2169AD. The first ships used chemical rockets and VASMIR drives. Only the largest of the nations states could make them or afford them. They were large, very expensive and consumed a a good proportion of the nations GDP.

Even when the fist settlement was established in 2040, a ship wpould be sent only every 2 years. As mining activities expaneded at the end of 21st century, ships from Terra became more common, though it was still a slow and expensive trip, and usually only for miners and scientists. A few exceptionally rich individuals, like Sir Richard Branson III, could afford the trip and the cost of the stay.

It wasn't until Fusion Drives became available after 2115 that trips between Terra and Mars became common and a regular 'airline' like passenger service was established. Still the trip took nearly a month and was expensive, about the average westerners salary for a year. Despite the cost, travel boomed and Mars grew from being a mining colony to a thriving planet, with it's own inductry and cities. Nowadays, there are passenger ships every day of the week to Terra and the Belt. Ships to the outer colonies leave once or twice a week.