What do the Dalai Llama and Kate Winslet have in common? They’re both afraid of flying. Variously described as aerophobia, aviatophobia, aviophobia or pteromechanophobia.

An estimated 500 million people worldwide have a fear of flying with 2.5 million of those in the UK. As many as 20-30 per cent of population are apprehensive about flying and between 2 and 10 per cent have a phobia. It’s more common in women and often starts in childhood or early adulthood.

So, on a Boeing 737 carrying 200 passengers, between four and 20 passengers will be really scared and more than a fifth will be quite worried.