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 (OTC: ALNPY) turned to these special scenic flights to keep money flowing and their pilots license's current. EVA even used one of their iconic Hello Kitty themed planes for a special Father's Day flight, while ANA used their usual Honolulu-bound airbus to do a 90-minute circuit with an on-board Hawaiian experience to draw in customers.
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 (OTC: QABSY) had also joined the party when they offered up a seven-hour scenic flight over Australia's Outback and the Great Barrier Reef. The tickets sold out in just 10 minutes. The plane usually used for long-haul international trips will be flying low over Uluru, Sydney Harbour, and the Great Barrier Reef before returning to Sydney. Tickets ran between $575 and $2,765, depending on the seating class, and Quantas said it was likely the fastest-selling flight in the company's history, quoted by Reuters.
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.