EasyJet : announces new Fearless Flyer courses ahead of October half term and Christmas getaway

easyJet, Europe's leading airline, has released ten new Fearless Flyer course dates nationwide for the autumn in a bid to help even more nervous flyers to overcome their fears. Starting in September and running through to November, the courses will come just in time for those planning to get away for the October half term and Christmas period who may need a helping hand to fly confidently.

Around one in six people have a fear of flying, with aerophobia estimated to affect millions in the UK alone. easyJet's Fearless Flyer course takes place over two days - on the first day, phobia expert Lawrence Leyton teaches attendees proven mind techniques to control their nerves and he is joined by a senior easyJet pilot who will explain the sounds and sensations experienced onboard a flight. The following day, attendees are taken on a one hour flight, dedicated entirely to the course and which features a full in-flight commentary. It is one of the best priced courses of its kind at only £189, with the opportunity to bring a friend or family member along on the flight for £69.

Peter Duffy, easyJet's Group Commercial Director, said:

'We're pleased to be announcing more dates and locations on our Fearless Flyer programme to give even more people across the UK the opportunity to fly more comfortably and confidently. The course is suitable for anyone who is a nervous flyer, whether they experience slight anxiety or whether they have never flown before.

'One of the main pieces of feedback we receive from previous participants is that they wish they had taken the course sooner. We have a success rate of more than 95% and would encourage anyone thinking of taking part to book a place and conquer their fears. Our Fearless Flyers regularly send us snaps of themselves on golden beaches or by famous landmarks abroad, from Spain to Portugal to further afield such as the US and Australia - some of whom had never flown before the course!'

Mark Wein, easyJet's Fearless Flyer Course Director, commented:

'Demand for our courses is increasing year on year and since 2012 we have successfully seen over 3,500 people take to the sky fearlessly from the 50 courses that we have run to date. So I'm really pleased that this autumn we will be extending our number of courses to 10 including an extra course in Newcastle for 2016 and Birmingham for the very first time.

'As an ex-phobic myself, I know firsthand how restrictive a fear of flying can be and the knock-on effect it can have for others as it can often ground an entire family and limit the choice of holiday destinations. But in virtually every case, it is a very easy fix. Whether it's a technical fear of the aircraft itself, or a psychological fear such as claustrophobia or a fear of heights, it's simply a matter of gaining knowledge of how an aircraft flies or learning coping strategies to manage and remove the fear. This is exactly what we teach on the course and why it's proving to be such a highly successful formula.'

easyJet's Autumn 2016 Fearless Flyer courses are taking place on the following dates:

For further information or to book a place, please visit www.fearlessflyer.easyjet.com

ENDS

For further information, please contact the easyJet Press Office on 01582 525252, log onto www.easyjet.comor follow @easyJet_Press

About easyJet:

easyJet is Europe's leading airline offering a unique and winning combination of the best route network connecting Europe's primary airports, with great value fares and friendly service.

easyJet flies on more of Europe's most popular routes than any other airline. easyJet carries over 70 million passengers annually, of which more than a fifth are travelling on business. easyJet flies over 255 aircraft on more than 820 routes to over 130 airports across 31 countries. More than 300 million Europeans live within one hour's drive of an easyJet airport.

easyJet aims to be a good corporate citizen, employing people on local contracts in seven countries across Europe in full compliance with national laws and recognising their trade unions. The airline supports a number of local charities and also has a corporate partnership with UNICEF which has raised over £7m for the most vulnerable children since it was established in 2012.

The airline takes sustainability seriously. easyJet invests in the latest technology, operates efficiently and fills most of its seats which means that an easyJet passenger's carbon footprint is 22% less than a passenger on a traditional airline, flying the same aircraft on the same route.

Innovation is in easyJet's DNA - from our launch 20 years ago when we changed the way people fly to the present day where we lead the industry in digital, web, engineering and operational innovations to make travel more easy and affordable for our passengers.