Asian Airlines joins the scenic "flights to nowhere" trend amid the pandemic

 

The stringent border restrictions to control the coronavirus have led to a 97.5% decrease in international travel in the region, according to the Asia-Pacific Aviation Federation.

Sydney:

Qantas Airways Limited said it will organize a seven-hour flight over Australia next month, adding to the growing trend in Asia of "flights anywhere" that take off and land at the same airport.

Tight border restrictions to keep the coronavirus under control have led to a 97.5% decrease in international travel in the region, according to the Asia-Pacific Airlines Association.

Many frequent travelers miss boarding and airlines including Taiwanese EVA Airways Corp and Japan's ANA Holdings, which are desperate for revenue and to maintain their existing pilots' licenses, have introduced special sightseeing tours.

EVA used one of its Hello Kitty premium jets on a special Father's Day flight last month, while ANA used an Airbus SE A380 that typically flies to Honolulu for a 90-minute flight with the Hawaiian experience on board. Tickets for a Tiger Air Taiwan flight from Taipei will cost about $ 228 and will orbit over Jeju Island in South Korea, reportedly sold out within four minutes.

The price includes a one-year coupon for return tickets from Taiwan to Korea, which can be used after the COVID-19 travel ban is lifted.

A spokesman said Singapore Airlines is also considering scenic flights, but no decision has been taken.

Qantas said it would use a Boeing 787, which is normally used for long international flights, for the inbound flight from Sydney, which will fly low over Uluru, Great Barrier Reef and Sydney Harbor, before landing again in Sydney. Tickets will cost between A $ 787 and A $ 3787 ($ 575, AU $ 2,765) depending on the seating category.

CEO Alan Joyce said that just six months ago, it was inconceivable that Australians would not be able to hop on a plane and travel outside the country or even out of their own country due to border controls and quarantine requirements. "While we may not be able to take you abroad at the moment, we can certainly provide inspiration for future trips to some of the most beautiful destinations in Australia," he said in a statement.

The flight will be carbon neutral and will operate on a cost-neutral basis, Qantas said, amid some concerns raised on social media about the environmental impact of such trips, and the concept of scenic flights is not new.

Antarctica Tours has chartered Qantas jets for scenic flights over Antarctica for 26 years.

An Air New Zealand Limited sightseeing flight crashed over Antarctica in 1979 at Mount Erebus, killing all 257 on board.