"A flight to nowhere" is the latest proposal from the aviation industry
There is no doubt that we miss book a plane ticket , head to the airport, check-in, explore the small shops in the terminals and contemplate extraordinary views from the window. But at what price do we want to experience these sensations again? qantas, Singapore Airlines, All Nippon Airways , Starlux Airlines, EVA Air and Royal Brunei Airlines are just a few of the airlines that have recently announced the launching a series of flights to nowhere.
What is the latest trend in travel about? The proposal offers the opportunity to fly again, especially in territories where today border restrictions remain in place on international as well as domestic routes. Although the duration of the flights and the entertainment services on board vary according to each airline, on this occasion, the airport of departure and arrival is the same.
the japanese airline All Nippon Airways set the precedent at the end of August by putting up for sale a 90-minute journey on one of its Airbus A380 planes. The flight experience was inspired by Hawaii , since that plane used to fly the tokyo-honolulu route before the global pandemic caused by the coronavirus broke out.
In the same way, EVA Air managed to occupy all 309 seats on a special flight for Father's Day. The plane, which took off and landed in the Taipei Taoyuan International Airport (Taiwan) , flew at an altitude of 25,000 feet so that passengers will appreciate the views of the Ryukyu archipelago as well as Taiwan, while the Taiwanese airline StarLux Airlines introduced a similar voyage around the Pratas Islands and Royal Brunei Airlines held “Dine & Fly” , an 85-minute drive along the coast of Brunei.
Airlines announced the launch of a series of flights to nowhere
For its part, Qantas, the safest airline in the world according to the Australian consulting firm Airline Ratings, has made available to travelers a 7-hour scenic flight across Australia which will take place on October 10. He plans to take off from Sydney airport and return to the same place, after having flown the Mount Uluru , the Great Barrier Reef , Byron Bay and the most emblematic places of the city in question.
The airplane b787 , usually reserved for long-haul flights, will be in charge of immersing passengers in this experience, which will offer a breakfast in the Qantas VIP lounge before taking off, a lunch menu designed by renowned chef Neil Perry , airline pajamas and a gift bag.
“Many of our frequent flyers are used to being on a plane every two weeks. and they have told us that they miss the experience of flying as much as the destinations themselves, ”says Alan Joyce, CEO of Qantas Group in an official statement.
throwing 'Great Southern Land' the Australian airline did not expect such a response, and against all odds, after a few minutes managed to sell all 149 available seats , at prices ranging from 483 euros in Economy class to 2,324 euros in business.
Qantas offers a 7-hour scenic flight around Australia
In recent months, airlines around the world, as well as the tourism industry In general, they stressed that they have incurred millionaire losses and financial problems of all kinds, so it is not surprising that the main purpose behind flights to nowhere is to earn income.
They also seek to keep all staff on the payroll and aim to prevent pilot licenses from expiring , given that according to the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) or the Civil Aviation Security Authority (CASA) they must carry out three takeoffs and landings every 90 days . Although they can be carried out in a simulator, it is advisable that it be done through flight hours.
THE ECOLOGICAL DAMAGE OF FLIGHTS TO NOWHERE
Preserving and recovering the source of employment is something that is out of the question, but... What happens with the impact on climate change? The latest trend in travel puts the sustainable development model in check that some airlines were trying to address and, without a doubt, it contributes to the carbon footprint of each of them being larger.
Qantas, for example, has mentioned that it would buy carbon offsets to offset the 40 tons of fuel that burn during the flight. However, this would not be enough for environmentalists, since we should prevent the release of that substance from happening in the first place. And how do you fix them? aerosol sprays, water vapor and nitrogen oxide What do airplanes emit?
While various non-governmental organizations such as SG Climate Rally express their concern Singapore Airlines evaluates whether to make available flights to nowhere from next month. Once again, the short-term results appear to outweigh the sustainable strategies.
The ecological damage of flights to nowhere...