Simon Calder's Independent Travel Podcast

Apr 11 2025 1064 ep. 7 mins 272
Simon Calder's Independent Travel Podcast artwork

Simon Calder is the Independent’s travel correspondent, the UK’s leading travel journalist. From news updates to discussions with experts, Simon Calder's Independent Travel Podcast will bring you all you need to know from the world of travel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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April 11th - Birmingham airport – only 32 minutes from Old Oak Common

Apr 11 2025 6 mins  
That's the long-term prospect for the West Midlands airport, which aims to compete with the London airports. In the very short term, Birmingham is expecting its busiest Easter ever. I'm talking to the airport's chief executive, Nick Barton, who says the restoration of flights to New York can't come soon enough.This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly newsletter. Sign

April 10th - Step on the train in London, step off in Milan, Geneva or Bordeaux

Apr 10 2025 8 mins  
That's the hope of London St Pancras Highspeed, the company that runs the UK's only functioning international rail station – as well as the High Speed 1 rail link to the Channel Tunnel near Folkestone in Kent.Chief executive Robert Sinclair has been telling me about the prospects for trebling the number of international passengers between the UK and Continental Europe, adding new

April 9th - How online scammers pretending to be airlines could plunder your bank account

Apr 09 2025 5 mins  
Villains are stalking social media in search of passengers frustrated at the lack of contact from their airlines.I've been hearing from Karen Welsh, who told me: "Potentially being scammed out of a fortune is upsetting and worrying, but more than anything, if I could get there then goodness knows who else could get there as well."This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's wee

April 8th - The world's ten best airport approaches revealed

Apr 08 2025 6 mins  
It's Travel Desk Tuesday, and I'm talking to travel writer for The Independent Amelia Neath about a survey that rates the most beautiful approaches to airports around the world – including three that are reasonably accessible for British travellers.This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly newsletter. Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox. Hosted on Acast.

April 7th - Continental Corridor through Dover

Apr 07 2025 6 mins  
When Europe’s much delayed entry-exit system finally takes effect, motorists departing by ferry from Dover will face a two-stage process to enter the EU – with the locations for each element taking part a mile apart. AI will be deployed to detected any unusual activity between the two checkpoints.Doug Bannister, chief executive of the Port of Dover, has been telling me all abou

April 4th - Easter rush gets under way

Apr 04 2025 4 mins  
Many schools break up on Friday 4 April, and I've been looking ahead to the likely pain points on road, rail, air and ferry.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.

April 3rd - Luton gets the go-ahead for expansion

Apr 03 2025 4 mins  
London's fourth airport is to expand by 90% in the next 15 years. I've been looking back at its history – and forward at possible long-haul expansion.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.

April 2nd - Heathrow – what went wrong on 21 March?

Apr 02 2025 6 mins  
MPs on the Transport Select Committee spent the morning grilling Thomas Woldbye, chief executive of London Heathrow, about the decision to close down Europe's busiest airport following a power outage. A lively session, and you can hear some of it here.This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly newsletter. Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox. Hosted on Acast.

April 1st - Busy week for budget airlines in southeast England

Apr 01 2025 6 mins  
Yesterday I was at Southend airport for the opening of a new easyJet base. Today the target is Luton airport where Jet2 has opened a new base – at the home of easyJet. Steve Heapy, chief executive of Jet2.com and Jet2 Holidays, says the customer will be the winner.This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly newsletter. Sign up here to get it delivered to you

March 31st - Exclusive interview with Michael O’Leary

Mar 31 2025 5 mins  
Ryanair has just announced it has carried 200 million passengers over the course of a year. A good moment, then, to catch up with Michael O’Leary, who has been chief executive for the past 31 years. We talked about his quest for “intergalactic domination”, fares and delays this summer, cabin bag size and the new Ryanair Prime subscription offer.This podcast is free, as is Ind