About 25 per cent of UAE residents still get nervous every time they get on a plane, particularly on long-haul flights, a recent study showed.

A study conducted by British Airways among 1,000 respondents in the UAE showed that one in four have a fear of flying, with nearly half (42 per cent) saying they feel the fear impairs them from enjoying travel, said a report in Gulf News

The study also showed that women are more likely to experience flight jitters, with as much as 5 per cent women more than men experiencing anxiety while flying, the report said.

In order to combat the fear, the airline is holding a one-day “Flying Confidence” course in Dubai, UAE, on March 14 at The Capital Club in Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC).

The course, to be hosted by British Airways Captain Steve Allright, will address passengers’ most common concerns, including how an aircraft operates, turbulence and other technical aspects of flying.

The course is priced at Dh1,725 ($450) and participants can sign up through www.flyingwithconfidence.com. The course will be divided into two sessions. The first one will be conducted by Allright, who will cover the technical side of aviation.

The second session will be handled by a certified phobia counsellor, who will tackle the psychological aspects of aerophobia, the mechanics of fear and how best to deal with anxiety and feelings of panic. There will also be some tools and exercises that will allow participants to deal with their fears head on, the report said.

Furthermore, Allright has shared some quick tips on how to deal with aerophobia:

Control your breathing: When on the plane and anxiety kicks in, try to control your breathing. Hold your breath, then take a long deep breath in, followed by a long deep breath out. Continue this long breathing exercise until you feel relaxed.

Don’t be bothered by turbulence: Turbulence may be uncomfortable but it’s never dangerous. Compare it to the motion of a train as it goes along the track. You know that these motions are connected to riding a train – turbulence is the equivalent for an aircraft.