Over nine months later, it's no surprise to the world that the pandemic is still damaging to multiple industries, especially the travel industry. Not only are airlines specifically struggling, but frequent fliers are also missing their lifestyle of flying, airports, and seeing the sights. So Asian airlines came up with scenic "flights to nowhere", where planes take off and land at the same airport, to fill the niche.
According to the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines, there has been a 97.5% drop in international travel. With tough boarder restrictions keeping many planes grounded, it was a race against many airline's bank account to find a solution to keep themselves afloat. Taiwan's EVA Airways Corp. and Japan's ANA Holdings Inc
Taiwan also sold out a flight from Taipei that will circle over Jeju Island in South Korea in only four minutes. A ticket cost about $236, and it also included a one-year voucher for round trip tickets from Taiwan to Korea, which is available to use after coronavirus bans have been lifted.
Qantas Airways Ltd
However, critics are pointing out the glaring flaw in flights to nowhere: their baseless damage to the environment. Flights are carbon-intensive travel, and with a climate crisis already on the minds of people around the world, this kind of frivolous spending and potential waste of resources is damaging to the planets.