It may appear irrational to those who think nothing of jumping on a plane to take them from one location to another, the people who see air travel much in the same way as most of us see taking a trip in a car, or by train. But for some, the thought of boarding a plane that will speed down a runway, take off and cruise 37,000ft above the ground remains a genuine phobia that a few never overcome.

In a bid to counter the problem, Brussels Airlines is reintroducing a course that offers nervous flyers the chance to conquer their fears, using virtual reality (VR) technology to help address the issues; the Belgian airline is working with a range of behavioural therapists at ‘The Human Link’ to develop a programme that takes place at the end of March.

It is the first time such a course has been run for four years, with Marieke Impens of The Human Link saying there had been a recent upturn in the numbers seeking their help as flying frequency returns to its pre-pandemic levels.

“These are people from all walks of life, from teenagers to those in their 70s,” said Impens. “And it’s really not just business travellers. Some even work in the aviation industry and are suddenly constrained by fear.

“The course was created back in 2006 in collaboration with Ghent University and is scientifically-based. The success rate was always above 80 per cent. Due to the Covid pandemic we put the course ‘on hold’ for a while, but continued tweaking our approach.”

Participants attend an interview with a therapist to determine their suitability for the course before undertaking the programme that involves industry experts explaining the principles of flight before taking part in exercises dealing with anxiety – VR is used to immerse participants in the environment of an aircraft.

The course is offered in Dutch at Brussels Airlines in Zaventem and, depending on demand, sessions will be proposed in French and English.