Simon Calder's Independent Travel Podcast

Katherine Moloney, founder of Elevate(her) Aviation and a licensed pilot, discusses the stark gender disparity in aviation leadership, where only 5% of key roles are held by women, despite 30% female representation overall. She highlights barriers such as lack of female-friendly facilities and the need for role models to inspire future generations. Katherine also addresses the challenges women face in training and re-entering the field postpartum, and she proposes strategies to increase female pilot numbers and achieve gender parity in aviation.

Heilbronn, a quaint German city, is set to be the European Green Capital for 2027 and boasts two climbable medieval towers. You can grab the keys at the tourist office for an adventurous self-guided tour. Experience the thrill of exploring these historic structures on your own, with open access that contrasts sharply with more regulated tourist spots. Climb to the battlements at sunset for breathtaking views and a taste of local history. It's an invitation to roam freely and embrace the beauty of self-service tourism!

Dr. Joshua Allison, Medical Director at Unique Expeditions and an authority on survival in extreme environments, shares his expertise on navigating jungles. He highlights that heat and humidity are greater threats than wildlife, and offers practical tips on clothing, gear, and foot care to avoid injuries. Joshua also discusses how to sleep safely in the jungle, advocating for treated hammocks over tents. The conversation contrasts the challenges of jungle versus Arctic expeditions, revealing unique insights into extreme adventure survival.

In this engaging discussion, Thomas Reynaert, Senior Vice President for External Affairs at IATA, shares insights on the proposed premium passenger tax at COP30. He argues that taxing business and first-class travelers is counterproductive and advocates for the existing Corsia framework as a more effective solution for reducing aviation emissions. Reynaert also highlights concerns about increased UK air passenger duties, warning that they could negatively impact connectivity and drive airlines to change their routes, ultimately harming the UK economy.

(* Though, as Dara Brady, Chief Marketing Officer of Europe’s biggest budget airline has been telling me, if you need a boarding pass printed out at the airport staff will do that for free, so long as you have already checked in online.)This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly newsletter. Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Five years ago, Cat Jones created a start-up to use smart tech solutions (coupled, often, with Interrail passes) to deliver tailor-made journey by rail, sea and bus across Europe.This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly newsletter. Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I am at London Gatwick airport, location of easyJet's biggest base, to celebrated the 30th birthday – on Monday – of Britain's biggest budget airline. Since 10 November 1995, aviation has been democratised, giving us wider horizons than ever. I've been talking to Bill Rivett, captain of the first historic flight from Luton to Glasgow. Turns out he was on secondment from British Airways to GB Airways, the small airline easyJet initially hired to do the flying ...This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly newsletter. Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today I'm at World Travel Market, the UK's biggest travel trade event, and talking to Lara Paxton of New Scientist Discovery Tours about the prospects for a new kind of adventure: whether searching for dinosaur traces in the Gobi Desert, or visit the Large Hadron Collider at CERN outside Geneva.This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly newsletter. Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Four weeks ago the MP for Barnsley South took over the tourism brief: a real challenge, in my view, with visitor numbers and spend last year lower than pre-Covid. I've been hearing about her vision for boosting business, and in particular broadening the appeal of the UK beyond London. To places such as Yorkshire ...This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly newsletter. Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Caledonian Sleeper has long linked London Euston with Fort William in the West Highlands of Scotland, as well as Inverness and Aberdeen. From 15 January 2026, the overnight train will call at Birmingham International, serving the city's airport. I've been hearing more from two Caledonian Sleeper executives: Interim Managing Director Graham Kelly and Head of Sales & Marketing, Steven Marshall.This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly newsletter. Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.