We were incredibly proud to recently have AirDrate featured on BBC Morning Live, giving our CEO, Amanda Coleman, the opportunity to speak with interviewer Alfie Watts (winner of race Around the World) about the problem AirDrate was created to help solve: ear pain when flying

For many people, flying is exciting. It means holidays, family visits, work trips, and new places. But for others, the thought of take-off and landing brings anxiety because of the pain, pressure, popping, or discomfort they experience in their ears.

This is the problem AirDrate was designed to help with.

A Proud Day for AirDrate!

Being invited to film with the BBC was a very special moment. As a small UK business, it meant a great deal to have the opportunity to talk about the extensive work that has gone into developing AirDrate and why it matters so much to the people who struggle with ear pain and deafness when flying.

The filming day in Manchester was both exciting and a little nerve-wracking! Seeing the product, the story, and the purpose behind AirDrate being recognised in this way though was a proud milestone for us.

It was also a reminder of why we do this: because ear pain during flights can be more than a minor inconvenience. For some people, it can affect how they feel about travelling altogether.

Why ear pain when flying happens

Ear pain during flights is usually linked to changes in air pressure, especially during take-off and landing. As the aircraft climbs and especially as it descends, the pressure around us changes quickly. Some people’s ears adjust without much difficulty, but for others, the pressure change can cause pain, blocked ears, popping, or discomfort.

This can be particularly distressing for people who experience it regularly, as well as for those travelling with a cold or ear infection, and parents travelling with children who especially struggle during flights.

How AirDrate helps

The feature looked at a range of approaches to managing ear pain when flying, and we were proud that AirDrate was included as a unique solution developed specifically for this problem.

AirDrate was created to help reduce ear pain when flying using a patented, clinically proven design. It is not just another standard earplug. It was developed specifically for people who suffer from discomfort caused by pressure changes during air travel.

Amanda explained that, unlike standard earplugs, AirDrate is based on published research into the effect of the dry cabin environment on the eardrum. This research showed that the eardrum can dehydrate during flight and become less flexible and we have found in further research (awaiting publication) that this results in pain and discomfort during pressure changes.

Why the BBC feature matters to us

Being featured by the BBC was an important moment because it helped us shine a light on a problem that many travellers experience but often feel they simply have to put up with.

Ear pain when flying is not always talked about, yet it can have a real impact on people’s confidence around travel. Some customers tell us they dread flying because of the pain and days of deafness after landing. Others say they have avoided flights completely or suffered anxiety in the lead up to family holidays because of previous painful experiences.

Beckie King, a longstanding AirDrate customer, was also interviewed for the feature and shared a moving account of how ear pain when flying used to affect her confidence to travel. Her story helped highlight just how distressing this problem can be and why raising awareness matters.

For us, the BBC feature was about helping more people realise that they are not alone, and that there may be a solution worth trying.

We are very grateful to the BBC for giving us the chance to share our story, and to all of our customers who continue to support AirDrate. As a UK aviation family business, every message, review, and recommendation makes a real difference.

Our hope is simple: to help more people fly without the fear of ear pain and love flying as much as we do!

Learn more about AirDrate and order here