I learnt to fly when I was 17, before I could even drive. In my early twenties, I had a four-seater Cessna, and I flew all over Ireland: my favourite trip was to the Aran Islands, off the west coast. I’d land on Inisheer, a tiny place: there were three pubs, one shop, a small hotel . . . you were totally disconnected from the world. I’d meet up there with about 20 pals, stay for two or three nights, play football with the local kids, have a pint or two . . . and lose track of time. It was great.

One time I got a call from a pal of mine. He was winding me up: “Ha ha, I’m about to get on the ferry to the Aran Islands. Bet you wish you were here!” I was sitting at home, and I thought, well, I could probably beat him there. So I called a couple of friends, we jumped in the plane, and we were on our second pint of Guinness by the time he landed. You can imagine his face when he saw us there, standing in the door of the pub.

Funny thing was, he’d had the worst crossing of his life, the sea was so rough. The next day, he begged and begged me to fly him back to Galway so he wouldn’t have to get on the boat again. And I didn’t. Well, he shouldn’t have wound me up.

When I was younger, we’d go on family holidays to Ballyconneely, a beautiful place out west in Connemara. We weren’t wealthy: we’d stay in basic cottages or mobile homes. I’ve stayed in five-star hotels all over the world since then, suites where it’s a five-minute walk from the door to the bed, but I think I was just as happy in a mobile home.

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• Frequent flyer: Erin O'Connor

BACKGROUND

• My hols: Phil Daniels

• My hols: Roger Moore

• My hols: David Mitchell

• My hols: Tracey Emin

• My hols: Colin Firth

BACKGROUND

• My hols: Ricky Gervais

• My hols: Sam Robards

• My hols: Jimmy Carr

• My hols: Johnny Vegas

• My hols: Moby

We’d get together with cousins, spend days on the beach — but being active: fishing and playing. For me, lying around sunbathing is torture. I understand why so many of our customers want to do it, it’s just not something I share.

A skiing trip with friends is my sort of holiday. You can be a bit competitive, and in the evening you feel justified going out and having a few beers because you’ve worked for it. I haven’t been skiing for four years, and I’ve missed it. I remember going with my daughter to Vermont at Christmas, 2004: it was the best day on the slopes I’ve ever had, racing with each other, having fun together. I’m hoping to go with her this year, if I can. Perhaps she’ll show me a clean pair of heels. I’ll feel proud if she does.

I’m notorious now for not taking holidays, but I do try. For instance, I was supposed to join my family in Mallorca in 2006. I got this bizarre phone call the night before I was supposed to go. “Will you be at your desk tomorrow?” they asked. I explained why I wouldn’t. And they said, “Mmm.” I said, “Does ‘mmm’ mean I shouldn’t go?” And they said, “We really can’t say anything.”

So next I had to ring my wife and say, “Look, I’m not going to be there tomorrow.” She says, “Why not?” and I say, “I don’t know.” And as you would expect, she hung up on me.

The next day, news broke of a huge security scare at Heathrow. That was why they’d made sure I’d be there — it was when the ban on liquids started. I got this guilty text from my wife: “We’re watching Sky News, we’re so sorry!” So that was my last planned holiday, which didn’t really happen.

Contrary to what people think, I do fly in economy. It’s nice to see it from time to time. I’ve done Montreal to London, and London to Tokyo. Tokyo disappointed me at first. It looks so ordinary, like any American city. I thought, “Is this it?” But when you get the buzz, the energy, it’s fantastic.

There’s nowhere like Ireland, though. Cruising on the Shannon is the most relaxing thing I’ve ever done. You’re only moving at five knots, but you are travelling, so you feel like you’re doing something. The landscape’s lovely, and — this is a recurring theme, isn’t it? — there are great pubs.

I’d love to try the same thing along the Thames. And I want to tour Japan more. And go to Mallorca again, and ski, of course . . . Will I have time to do any of it? I don’t know. But I’ll try, I really will.

Willie Walsh talked to Stephen Bleach

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