The latest travel trend is "flights to nowhere," and there is even a tour operator in Russia that organizes them
Literally, "flights to nowhere" are the flights without destination. A paradox? Probably so. Yet, their success is in [...]
EVA Air
All Nippon Airways (ANA)
Literally, the "flights to nowhere" are flights without destination. A paradox? Probably so. Yet, their success is growing.
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To board one of the "flights to nowhere" offered by airlines is to embark on an actual flight. Or rather, a flyover. With the aircraft taking off, it flies over aimlessly the departure city and gives panoramic views, while the crew serves tasty snacks. The destination, however, does not exist.
How "flights to nowhere" work and why it benefits companies
Having planes idle for a long time is an unsustainable cost for companies. Thanks to "flights to nowhere," they can keep them in business while earning some money and without the paperwork required by international flights (since you depart and arrive at the same airport).
But from the traveler's point of view? It sounds strange, but destination-less flights have been met with great enthusiasm. This is well known by the Japanese company Ana, which has earmarked for the initiative theA380 usually employed on the Tokyo-Honolulu route. It all started last August, when the carrier launched a 90-minute scenic flight departing from Tokyo and back to the city. Passengers were offered a "Hawaiian resort-style" experience. There were so many requests made that travelers were drawn by lot (The plane could only occupy 64% of its seats).
Similar initiatives have been devised by StarLux e Royal Brunei. The Taiwanese company launched the "pretending to go abroad" tour with a flyover of the Pratas Islands in the northern part of the South China Sea. Also recording unexpected success. Royal Brunei responded with the "Dine & Fly", 85 minutes aboard an A320 to see Borneo from above and enjoy a gourmet dinner.
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Decidedly big thought instead Qantas who, in just 10 minutes, sold out his incredible tour: Seven hours aboard a plane, observing Australia from the sky. No stops, of course, but the excitement that is: seeing the Great Barrier Reef and Uluru from above doesn't happen often. The cost? Not exactly cheap ($575 to $2,765, depending on class).
Photo: Facebook (All Nippon Airways)
Why destination-less flights are so popular
The online magazine Russia Beyond tried to explain it. Makar, a 26-year-old policeman from Siberian Zheleznogorsk-Ilimskij, drove 14 hours to Irkutsk airport. He took a flight to Moscow Sheremetjevo, moved to Vnukovo airport, and boarded another flight. Direction... Moscow! That's right: over a day's travel to board a plane with no destination (the tour, organized by the low-cost Pobeda, goes around the Russian capital and back to the airport after an hour and a half).
With a small expense (about 82 euros) and the knowledge that he will have a decidedly unique experience, Mark explained, "For most people, an airplane is just a quick means of transportation, but for us flight itself is an adventure".
Those who choose "flights to nowhere" are mainly aviation enthusiasts. But it's not just that. There is also an awareness, the idea of moving while the world stands still. The desire to participate in an event that with the pandemic was born and with the pandemic will (probably) die.
