logo
episode-header-image
Aug 2022
24m 47s

Will air travel ever return to normal?

Bbc World Service
About this episode

Images of queues, huge piles of luggage and even pilots loading their planes with cargo have plagued the media throughout the world. Airports have been in chaos for months as they have attempted to re-emerge from the Covid-19 pandemic, with Europe, the UK and the USA all having suffered the worst of the effects so far. Flight cancelations have played havoc with business travellers and holiday makers alike, and the problem only appears to be getting worse as a whole raft of flights have recently been cancelled in the UK.

All this begs the question, Why are things so bad right now and how do we fix the situation? So this week on the inquiry we ask, Will air travel ever return to normal?

Producer: Ravi Naik and Christopher Blake Editor: Tara McDermott (Photo: Flight boards at the height of the summer rush July 2022 Frankfurt Airport, Germany/credit: BBC images)

Up next
Jul 8
Can Brazil’s supercows feed the world?
Brazil’s Zebu cattle, or “supercows” are bred for size, strength, and meat quality. Every year the animals are showcased at ExpoZebu, Brazil’s premier cattle fair. These animals are preened, pampered, and prized, before being sold for millions for their genetic material. Zebu cat ... Show More
23 m
Jul 1
Does Trump care about Taiwan?
Ahead of last year’s US Presidential elections, Donald Trump was asked if he would defend China against Taiwan, he responded that Taiwan should pay the US for protection from China. Taiwan is a self-governing island, claimed by Beijing and whilst Taiwan is not formally recognised ... Show More
22m 58s
Jun 25
How crucial is the Strait of Hormuz to global oil supplies?
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the most important energy corridors in the world. It is the only sea route from the Persian Gulf to the open ocean, it serves as the primary maritime route for oil exports from the Gulf. Any disruption to traffic through the strait would have i ... Show More
22m 59s
Recommended Episodes
Aug 2022
The Summer of Airline Chaos
Across the United States, airline travel this summer has been roiled by canceled flights, overbooked planes, disappointment and desperation.Two and a half years after the pandemic began and with restrictions easing, why is flying still such an unpleasant experience?Guest: Niraj C ... Show More
23m 37s
Mar 2023
What’s causing the US airline chaos?
Recently, flying in the US seems to be more chaotic than calm. And while it may seem like this all started recently, the FT’s Chicago Correspondent Claire Bushey takes us back to a decision that happened in the 1970s that got us to where we are now.  Clips from NBC, PBS, CBS- - - ... Show More
19m 57s
Mar 2024
Going, Boeing, Gone
The girlies answer a pressing question: why is flying so awful? We used to have hotties in Pan Am uniforms serving us caviar, and now we suffer through heinous security lines to sit in seats with no legroom where the emergency exit door is not guaranteed to stay on til landing.   ... Show More
1h 18m
Jan 2023
The Southwest Airlines Meltdown
Air travel was a mess over the holidays — in the last 10 days of December, 30,000 flights were canceled. While every airline was affected, one stood out: Southwest, which over the past few decades has transformed how Americans fly, melted down. In the last 10 days of the year, it ... Show More
28m 22s
Aug 2023
Mile High Meltdowns: Air Travel Failures
From flight delays, to cancellations, to mid-flight fights, there is always chaos in sky. Desi Lydic and Roy Wood Jr. discuss air travel in America and the recent failures of the FAA. Trevor weighs in on flight attendants not being paid during boarding, and Ronny Chieng gives air ... Show More
19m 5s
May 2024
Quels sont les vols les plus touchés par les turbulences ?
Ces derniers temps, le mode de transport soi-disant le plus sûr a pris un coup à sa réputation. Une série d'incidents liés aux turbulences sème l'inquiétude : le vol Londres-Singapour a causé la mort d'un passager et fait une trentaine de blessés, ou encore le vol Doha Dublin, re ... Show More
4m 59s
Jan 2024
Boeing 737 Max planes are back in the air. Are they safe?
Planning a flight? Boeing’s 737 Max-9 is back in rotation, weeks after the US company came under fire for a near-catastrophic incident aboard one of its planes. Alaska Airlines 1282 was forced to make an emergency landing when part of its wall blew off mid-flight. It’s not the fi ... Show More
17m 18s