On board a flight to nowhere amidst a global pandemic

A recent trend in the airline industry sweeps the globe as airline companies began offering flights to nowhere, to satisfy the travel bugs amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

What is a “flight to nowhere”?

As the globe faces travel restrictions, a “flight to nowhere” sounds exactly like what we need – an air travel experience that requires no destination, but a view worthwhile to those dreaming of travelling again, or who just simply miss flying.

Some airlines market them as “scenic flights” where travellers can enjoy the view of cities and terrains from miles above, complete with in-flight meal and entertainment.

Who is offering them?

EVA Air, one of the biggest carriers in Taiwan, was among the first to offer these flights on August 8, commemorating Taiwan’s Father’s Day, on board its “Hello Kitty Dream” jet.

The trip took off from Taipei Taoyuan Airport and circled the skies for about 3 hours before returning to the same airport.

The airline also offered "moon-gazing" flights from October 1st till October 3rd especially for the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Another Taiwanese carrier, Starlux Airlines, marketed its destination-less flight as “pretending to go abroad” tour, where passengers can fly over the Taiwan-controlled Pratas Islands in the northern part of the South China Sea.

The same carrier also operated six “Fly to the Moon” flights on October 1st and 2nd, taking passengers on a journey “closest to the Moon”.

Australia’s largest airline, Qantas, offers the 'Great Southern Land' scenic flight using its state-of-the-art B787 Dreamliner aircraft. The seven-hour flight departing and returning on October 10, promises low level flybys of popular Australian destinations including the Great Barrier Reef and the iconic Sydney Harbour.

Qantas has also teamed up with tour company Antarctica Flights, to offer a 12-hour scenic expedition over the frozen continent to experience the arctic during its peak-daylight summer months.

Japan’s ANA promised the Hawaiian experience with its A380 “FLYING HONU", welcoming passengers aboard an hour and a half scenic flight on its usual Narita-Honolulu route.

Neighbouring Brunei also joined in with the launch of the 'Dine & Fly' sightseeing tour by Royal Brunei Air. The 85-minute scenic route over Brunei’s coast and the island of Borneo also offered passengers local cuisines from “Nasi Lemak” to “Sago Melaka”.

Hong Kong’s HK Express is the newest airline to join the bandwagon, branding it as “flycation” with its three 90-minute flights encircling the city in November.

How much do they cost?

Prices for these flights varies but it’s really up to passengers to put a value onto their once in a lifetime unique experience.

For EVA, an economy class ticket for a flight on its Hello Kitty Dream jet started at TWD5,288 ($180). Passengers can choose to upgrade their seats to business class for an additional TWD1,000 ($34).

For its Mid-Autumn Festival flight, an economy-class ticket cost TW$5,888 (S$278), with a window seat going for TW$1,000 more. Tickets for business class were TW$7,888 each.

There were 134 seats up for grabs for Qantas’s B-787 Dreamliner, priced between A$787 to A$3,787 ($770 to $3,700) depending on the class of ticket.

For Qantas’s privately chartered flight to Antarctica, passengers are invited to pay upwards of A$1,199 ($876) for a view unlike any other.

What’s the appeal?

The idea to introduce “flights to nowhere” has proven to be a success for many airline companies.

According to Qantas, their flights reportedly sold out within 10 minutes and were the fastest selling flight in Qantas history.

A spokesman of Taiwanese airline STARLUX said their six flights to nowhere since August and an additional 12 flights throughout October were mostly sold out in mere minutes.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the airline industry as companies across the globe were forced to shut down their operation due to travel restrictions.

As airlines began to explore new ideas that may attract revenue and sustain employment for their thousand over staffs, so to passengers who are eager to scratch their travel itch.

Will Malaysians fly to nowhere soon?

With more and more airline companies racing to offer flights to nowhere, will Malaysians get a taste of them soon?

In a media briefing on 24th September, AirAsia Group chief executive officer Tan Sri Tony Fernandes has said that he was not a big believer and has no plans to introduce “flights to nowhere” packages yet.

Although Tony did acknowledge a revenue opportunity, with AirAsia still in operation domestically, passengers should just opt to fly to a destination.

Many have also raised concerns on the impact of these flights have on the environment.

Qantas was heavily criticized by environment groups who raised concerns about raising the carbon emissions level in the atmosphere that will do more harm than good.

Singapore Airlines which previously showed interest in the idea also decided against it after a full review and much criticism from environmental campaigners.

In a statement by SG Climate Rally, the group adamantly opposed the idea as being a “carbon-intensive travel for no good reason” and “a stop-gap measure” that served as a distraction to the climate crisis.

Instead Singapore Airlines now offers many new experiences beginning October including an inflight dining inside its A380 double-decker superjumbo turned into a restaurant parked on the ground.