Upvote:3
Some Zeppelins had ranges in excess of 700 miles and could fly over 24,000 feet high, well beyond the operating ceiling of WWI-era aircraft.
Upvote:4
Compared to the aircraft of the day, Zeppelins were very long ranged, high flying, and slow but not excessively so. The payload was impressive, too.
Fighter aircraft could and did intercept airships, but that required luck and skill.
Heavier than air aviation had a greater development potential and fewer operational problems, so they overshadowed lighter than air after WWI.