easyJet’s Fearless Flyer course is returning from 19 January 2025 to 2 March 2025, providing experience flights for passengers with aerophobia.

The experience flights will take place at Belfast, Bristol, Birmingham, Manchester, London Luton, London Gatwick, and Edinburgh airports, run by senior easyJet pilots and a phobia expert.

“As one of the captains presenting the course, I have seen first-hand how so many nervous flyers conquer their worries and fears about flying, and they are now enjoying travelling to all parts of the world for business, for holidays and visiting relatives,” said Captain Maria Pernia-Digings, easyJet’s Lead Fearless Flyer Pilot Presenter. “If you have a fear of flying, please come and join us and let us help you to spread your wings and change your life.”

Since its launch in 2012, the course has helped over 13,000 people to take flight, with a success rate of over 95%. The course is split into three sections: a virtual ground course, a pre-flight ‘Meet the Team’ Zoom session, and a one-hour experience flight.

During the ground course, a captain walks customers through the sounds and sensations that may be felt during a flight, including turbulence, take-off and landing. This is accompanied by tips from Lawrence Leyton, an expert in the psychology of fear, including mind techniques to manage nerves. Following that, the Zoom meeting introduces participants to the airport experience and features a Q&A with an easyJet pilot, Leyton, and Course Director, Mark Wein. Finally, the flight allows passengers to test their new techniques while listening to a live commentary of the flight by the Fearless Flyer Team.

“As someone who used to have a fear of flying, I understand only too well how restrictive this fear can be, but it really isn’t that difficult to overcome it,” explained Wein. “Often, it’s just a lack of knowledge or a fear of panic attacks that is the root cause of the issue, which is why the easyJet Fearless Flyer course is so successful. Because our ground course covers all aspects of Aerophobia and then we complete the process with our confidence-building Experience Flight, which includes the added benefit of a highly reassuring pilot commentary throughout the journey, by the end of the course, even the most nervous customer can look forward to their next flight with total confidence.”

Photo: easyJet