For more than 6 months, the world has been in chaos ever since the coronavirus pandemic struck. People across the planet have been stuck indoors whiling away their time, dreaming of simpler days.
Many might have even thought of getting on a seemingly imaginary flight to nowhere, just to get away from the monotony of daily life.
And now, many airlines in Asia have started to make this idea a reality, providing these flights ‘to nowhere’.
A Flight Meant For Sightseeing
Due to the restrictions on travel, Qantas, an Australian airline, has turned to provide a flight ‘to nowhere’, a 7-hour flight that will depart and arrive at the same place.
The airline will be using a Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, which is generally used for long intercontinental travel, to fly 134 people from Sydney on October 10th.
Tickets, the costs of which ranged from AUD $787 to $3,787, were snagged by eager customers in barely 10 minutes, thus making it the fastest-selling flight in the airline’s history.
“People clearly miss travel and the experience of flying. If the demand is there, we’ll definitely look at doing more of these scenic flights while we all wait for borders to open,” said a spokesperson for the airline.
The scenic flight will fly at lower altitudes to allow passengers views of the Great Barrier Reef, Sydney Harbour, Bondi Beach and the Australian Outback, amongst others. A surprise celebrity host has also been promised by the airline.
Also Read: AirAsia Honours Indian Doctors By Giving 50,000 Seats Almost Free On Domestic Flights
A Popular Trend In Asia
Qantas isn’t the only airline to offer such services.
In August, ANA, a Japanese airline, provided 300 passengers with “a Hawaiian resort experience” on a 90-minute scenic flight on an aircraft that is otherwise used for flights to Honolulu. EVA, a Taiwanese airline used its iconic Hello Kitty aircraft for a special father’s day flight in August.
Singapore Airlines is also deliberating whether to start such a service in the pandemic, though no confirmations have been made so far.
Passengers are keen on enjoying such flights. “The pandemic has a devasting impact on the tourism and airline industry, so I want to help boost the economy, and I miss flying,” said Chen Shu Tze, an engineer from Taipei.
With the emphasis on staying indoors as much as possible and avoiding physical human contact, there are risks associated with travelling by air. But not all passengers are too worried.
“No doubt the risk is not zero, but I would say it is still pretty low. After being grounded for so long … I am itching to fly again,” said Lee Kai Lun, a physician from Singapore.
Aviation Industry In Disarray
It is not an easy time for airlines across the globe, with air travel having gone down by more than 85% when compared to last year. In Asia specifically, international travel has taken a hit by 97.5%, according to the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines.
In fact, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced in July that “global air travel won’t recover from the COVID-19 crisis until 2024.”
Qantas, which is offering the 7-hour scenic flight, reported losses totalling nearly $2.9 billion in 2020.
While airlines turn to novel ways of dealing with the travel restrictions, environmental groups have expressed their disapproval of these ‘flights to nowhere’, calling these flights as encouraging “carbon-intensive travel for no good reason.”
Would you undertake such a trip in a pandemic? Tell us in the comments section below.
Image Sources: Google Images
Sources: CNN, CNBC, Reuters
Find the blogger: @RoshniKahaHain
This post is tagged under: flight to nowhere, Qantas airline flight to nowhere, fastest selling flight tickets, Singapore airlines flight to nowhere, Taiwan Hello Kitty aircraft, pandemic travelling trend, 7 hour flight, travelling in a pandemic, covid 19, coronavirus, flights during covid, travelling, airlines, leisure travel, sightseeing, flight tickets sold
Other Recommendations:
70 Days, 18 Countries: This Bus Trip From Delhi To London Costs A Bomb
