Simon Calder's Independent Travel Podcast

Today's podcast is rather different from usual. For the first time, I am talking about driving tests but not any driving test. This one involves the Queen of Rock 'n' Roll – Suzi Quatro – who has been on the road, and on the roads for almost 60 years.

This year, though she was told she must take a British driving test. Susie has also become a British national. And Tonight she is playing the London Palladium.

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Eighteen years ago, Kosovo declared independence from Serbia after years of turmoil following the break-up of Yugoslavia. Serbia still regards Kosovo as part of its territory, but more than 100 countries recognise the nation. I flew into the capital, Pristina, which sprawls surprisingly far for a city of under a quarter-million people – but which has a compact and walkable centre. Among the highlights is the Ethnographic Museum, where I met curator Ilir Sopjani.

I also visited Prizren, a city close to the Albanian border – which has a handsome Serbian Orthodox cathedral. I got talking to a guide there, Angela, who told me this is a community with room for everyone.

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In 2023 I covered the launch of the British Airways Speedbird Pilot Academy: recruiting young people to be the pilots of tomorrow. I am delighted to be back at Heathrow to meet newly qualified pilot Jasmine Campbell, one of the inaugural intake and now flying A320 family aircraft across the UK and Europe for BA.

Recruitment for the next intake begins tomorrow, 14 April, and Senior First Officer Genevieve Pearmaine – the programme lead – told me more.

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From today, the EU’s “entry-exit system” is expected to be running at all Schengen area frontiers – bringing to an end the stamping of passports. The digital borders scheme aims to keep a central database of British travellers – as well as many other nationalities. But several EU countries are far from ready, and officials in Brussels have conceded that passports will still be stamped. Here's the inside story.

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Could you be tempted by the prospect of an exclusive 44-seat aircraft?

All-business-class carrier Beond is set to take passengers in some luxury to the Indian Ocean. Rhys Jones, aviation editor for Head for Points, has sampled the cabin. We also talk about Relax Row, the clever three-seat flat bed in economy that Air New Zealand conceived and United Airlines has now picked up.

And will there ever be a proper flat bed experience in economy or premium economy?

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.