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December 5th - Something odd has been happening with Ryanair's boarding passes
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The great Ryanair boarding pass mystery. Has Ryanair come up with a new moneymaking scheme just in time for Christmas? That is the question that has been exercising a good few of you in the last couple of days. The short answer, according to an airline spokesperson, is no: “There is no new procedure in force.” But something odd has been happening. Here's what we know, and what I am guessing.
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New York? Sydney? Boom Supersonic wants to take you there more swiftly.
08:41|Blake Scholl, CEO and founder of Denver-based Boom Supersonic, tells me in part 4 of supersonic week, that the longer the route, the better the appeal of his Overture aircraft,This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly newsletter. Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox.
Fly supersonic between London and New York for £4,000 return?
08:11|That's the plan from Blake Scholl, CEO and founder of Denver-based Boom Supersonic. In part 3 of supersonic week, he has been telling me about the pricing for his Overture aircraft – and who will be on board. First though, what was wrong about Concorde?This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly newsletter. Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox.
Boom Supersonic's big idea for a small impact on the planet
06:07|Part 2 of my exclusive interview with Blake Scholl, CEO and founder of Denver-based Boom Supersonic. His Overture aircraft aims to be the first supersonic passenger jet since Concorde was grounded in 2003. The Anglo-French supersonic aircraft was incredibly noisy and thirsty. Overture will be neither, he believes.This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly newsletter. Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox.
Welcome to Supersonic week! Will passengers ever break the sound barrier again?
07:38|It’s 50 years this month since the first-ever passenger flights on Concorde, the Anglo-French supersonic jet that travelled at 1,350mph. All this week I’m talking about the prospects of a new supersonic plane taking to the skies – with Blake Scholl, founder and CEO of Boom Supersonic. I talked to him at HQ in Denver.This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly newsletter. Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox.
In search of the UK's most beautiful railway station
04:58|I am stuck at Crewe, the rail junction in Cheshire, but I have been hearing from two of the presenters of an excellent new Channel 4 series, Britain's favourite railway station: Si King and Siddy Holloway. The first episode is available now at channel4.comThis podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly newsletter. Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox.
Greece: is it really a year-round destination?
05:28|Eleni Skarveli, director of the Greek National Tourism Organisation in London, says Athens and Thessaloniki are excellent winter destinations – and also reveals some of her favourite islands.This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly newsletter. Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox.
How tourism can help endangered species
06:34|My guest today is Paul Goldstein: photographer, expedition guide, and campaigner for protecting wildlife. He’s also author of a book out this week called Nine Lives: One Photographer, Nine Persecuted Species.This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly newsletter. Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox.
Travel Desk Tuesday: top tips for '26 from Global Travel Editor Annabel Grossman
05:36|Uganda and northern Argentina are off the tourism mainstream, but high on Annabel's recommendations for the year ahead. Adventure travel in Africa and South America sounds a joy – can't wait to find out for myself.This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly newsletter. Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox.
Preston to Carlisle – the pretty way
06:03|Avanti West Coast is providing a glorious workaround to the closure of the main rail line between Preston and Carlisle: a scenic train diversion along England’s most beautiful line, the Settle-Carlisle Railway. I went on a test run with Avanti West Coast managing director Andy Mellors, and talked to him when the train paused at Appleby.This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly newsletter. Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox.