Fly the world on a plate with aviation expert Geoffrey Thomas

“It once cost months or even years of salary to travel, whereas today there are some terrific deals, so it’s just a few days’ salary,” The West Australian Aviation Editor Geoffrey Thomas says. 

“One of my earliest flights, in 1978, cost me $900 return to London. I was earning about $50 a week.” 

There was a time when the only thing separating people from planes at the old Perth Airport was a low fence. 

The thought of terrorism never occurred to passengers and travel was so expensive that travellers wore their Sunday best. 

Modern security measures in airports have contributed to a rise in travellers’ stress levels. 

“A survey found that the stress level — including blood pressure and heart rate — of people passing through Heathrow Airport was higher than drivers in a Formula 1 racing car,” Geoffrey says. 

“People either absolutely love flying or they are terrified of it; in fact, 30 per cent have a serious fear, while 70 per cent have some type of fear of flying.”

After 46 years associated with the aviation industry, changes continue to amaze Geoffrey. 

“New-technology aircraft are making massive strides ... including environmentally by cutting fuel consumption dramatically. More power with less fuel, and that will be a massive driver in aviation. 

“There’s a sense of magic to flight when people wonder how the hell does a 500-tonne aircraft manage to stay up in the sky.” 

Join Geoffrey for dinner — in co-operation with our supporting partners Singapore Airlines, Air New Zealand and Virgin Australia — as he brings together stories from flying around the world. With each story will come a dish to match the airline to the tale.

Fact File

The Flying the World Dinner with The West Australian’s Aviation Editor Geoffrey Thomas is at the Club Restaurant at the University Club of Western Australia on May 15 from 7pm.

• BOOK HERE »  Flying the World Dinner