John Travolta marked his 72nd birthday on Wednesday by sharing his latest aviation achievement: a pilot's licence to fly a Global Express private jet. The actor posted a video on Instagram showing himself in the cockpit of the aircraft, which he described as a 'second in command' qualification.
'It's my birthday today!' Travolta wrote in the caption. 'And I'm very proud to say I got my license in the Global Express! Thank you for all my birthday wishes!' The clip also showed the plane taking off from a runway.
Travolta, who has been a licensed pilot since the age of 22, has previously earned licences for Boeing 747, 707 and 737 aircraft. He announced his 737 licence in a 2022 Instagram post, calling it 'a very proud moment in my aviation history'. His enthusiasm for flying dates back to a school aviation class he took at age 15.
The actor has served as an ambassador for Qantas Airways since 2002. His late wife, Kelly Preston, said in a 2018 interview that they travelled in his planes 'all the time' and that she never felt nervous when he was piloting because he was calm under pressure.
In a September 2025 interview with Business Jet Traveler, Travolta reflected on pilots' passion for flying: 'What excites pilots is so varied... except that it makes them happy because they love the joy of flight.'
