Set in a small airline business, Cabin Pressure is a comedy about the wing and a prayer world of a tiny, one-plane charter airline staffed by two pilots - one on his way down, and one who was never up to start with. Whether they're flying squaddies to Hamburg, metal sheets to Mozambique, transporting lads on a stag night or shifting a panther for the odd oil sheik, no job is too small - but many jobs prove to be too difficult - for MJN Air!
The airline is run by forbidding divorcee Carolyn Knapp-Shappey who, at last, aged 64, is free of her awful husband, but pleasingly not free of his private jet. Her two pilots are the smooth, experienced and almost certainly fired-by-a-big-airline-for-all-round-naughtiness Douglas, and the struggling, almost competent sweaty young captain Martin. General help is provided by Carolyn's dim-witted son Arthur. (Arthur discovered fizzy yoghurt!)
Series 1
Abu Dhabi: With fuel running low the crew divert to Bristol at the budget cost of £7,000. Supreme commander captain Creiff must then make a life or death decision about a client's cat, will he manage to save his career? Does anyone smell smoke on the flight deck?
Boston: As a particularly obnoxious passenger boards MJN air the crew decide to have a little fun with terminal consequences.
Cremona: A minor celebrity, a dozen shirts, a stateroom and a bunch of unruly fans singing songs about dragons — how can Douglas use these to get a fluffy dressing gown?
Douz: A routine charter to pick up the Scottish cricket team when their plane "breaks down", can an aeroplane run on rabbit food?
Edinburgh: A very special passenger makes Douglas grovel, Martin crawl, Carolyn frisk and Arthur cry and drink nail varnish.
Fitton: The crew are grounded, so Arthur shows them why apples are the secret of happiness, and Martin shows Carolyn how to be an air hostess.
Series 2
Helsinki: Carolyn and her sister haven't spoken for 15 years. Which is why Arthur has invited her and her family to a party on board, together with 500 euros-worth of smuggled orchids.
Gdansk: MJN Air is chartered to ferry a chamber orchestra, Carolyn has to deal with a very nervous bassoon player. Martin is in competition with Douglas to try to win at something.
Ipswich: When the crew have to go on a refresher safety and emergency procedures course, it spells trouble for Douglas's inner dog and Martin's inner ear.
Johannesburg: When Carolyn makes a daring bet with her pilots, what better place for a race against time than a sleepy Spanish airfield?
Kuala Lumpur: A week on standby at the airfield gives Arthur an opportunity to brush up on his stewarding skills, while Douglas seems to have disappeared. And why is everyone terrified of Dirk the groundsman?
Limerick: An interminable flight with a very baffling cargo gives the crew the opportunity to pass the time by alternately opening their hearts up to each other and persuading Arthur not to play charades.
Cabin Pressure At Christmas: Bing-bong merrily on high! It's Christmas morning on board MJN Air, but when Carolyn schedules an extra stop-off to the Hawaiian island of Molokai, Arthur has just seven minutes to celebrate Christmas. How can Douglas and Martin make this the best Christmas Arthur has ever had when all they have on board are some custard creams, a chicken sandwich and a Russian oligarch...
Series 3
Qikiqtarjuaq: MJN Air flies a party of tourists to the island of Qikiqtarjuaq near the North Pole, sightseeing for polar bears. Martin defends his "professionalism", Carolyn hunts for a lemon. Meanwhile, Alfred Hitchcock makes a surprise appearance...
Paris: When a bottle of expensive whisky goes missing, Martin becomes the Miss Marple of MJN Air. Geoffrey Whitehead returns as Mr. Birling, the rich and high-tipping client from the Series 1 episode Edinburgh.
Newcastle: Love is in the air, but also unfortunately in a small airport in Birmingham - and Martin has to choose between career, romance and fixing a very small tail-light. Carolyn meets a rather dashing pilot whilst Arthur meets a rather boring board game. With special guests Anthony Head, Anna Crilly and Mark Williams. Guest Tom Goodman-Hill plays Martin, Benedict Cumberbatch being ill at the time of recording
Ottery St Mary: Martin is a man with a van, Douglas flies a plane with an otter, and Carolyn dates a pilot with a problem with sheep. And two mysteries solved - the name of Carolyn's dog and the rules of Yellow Car. With special guests Anthony Head, Flip Webster and Ewan Bailey
Rotterdam: It's Lifejacket, Camera, Action as stardom beckons for one of the crew of MJN Air... but who will get to blow the final whistle? And will they look good in a vest? With guest stars Anthony Head and Gus Brown.
St Petersburg: Some vodka and an unwary bird could spell the end of the line for MJN Air, and when Carolyn meets her ex-husband the atmosphere turns even icier...
