Weird and Wonderful Flight Facts

Flight is something we take for granted. We can hop on a plane to almost anywhere in the world and while we’re in the air we’re probably thinking about what to eat, whether to have a nap, or our destination. However, there are some interesting facts about the safest mode of passenger transportation that might surprise you.

Passenger facts

• A woman attempted to take a baby tiger onto a flight by drugging it and putting it in a suitcase full of toy tigers. Luckily, they saw through her ruse – literally – with an X-ray;
• Over 3 billion people take commercial flights each year.

Food facts

• 6 tons of caviar is eaten each year by travellers using British Airways, but Lufthansa can beat that with an impressive 10 tons;
• Just by serving 1 olive fewer in each salad in first class, American Airlines managed to save $40,000 in one year.

Plane facts

• The aircraft with the greatest capacity is the Airbus A380, which can carry up to 853 passengers, depending on its seating configuration;
• At 195 feet, the wingspan of the Boeing 747 is greater than the distance of the first flight, which was only 120 feet.

Science facts

• A 3-hour flight can cause a passenger to shed as much as 1.5 litres of water from their body;
• Being in a pressurised cabin affects how your taste buds work, making food more likely to seem bland, so no more blaming the chef!

Now you have something more interesting to think about when you become one of the 660,000 people who are estimated to be flying at any given time. Sit back and enjoy your trip.