BeOnd opens sales: here's where the world's second airline will fly business class only
There are some confirmations, but also some changes in the new website of BeOnd, the All Business company with [...]
BeOnd
ZRH
Maldives
There are some confirmations, but also some changes in the new site of BeOnd, the all-business company based in the Maldives, which will begin operations in November this year.
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Indeed, as written a few days ago, Beond's ambition is to connect the Maldives with the major markets in Asia and Europe offering a ground and on-board service that is termed "Premium."
The first route was to be the Dubai-Male, instead the launch of the new airline will take place with connections (already on sale right on the site) from Male to Zurich and Munich, as well as Riyadh which is used as destinations and also as a refueling stop on flights to Europe.
The change of course on the plane
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This is because, unlike what was announced, BeOnd will operate at the beginning with an Airbus A319 (instead of the A321LR, thus with less flight range). In any case, the carrier's premium offering should be respected since the aircraft will be equipped with only 44 seats and fully reclining Business seats with all comforts.
BeOnd's choice, then, seems to be to combine high-level travel With a focus on cost. In fact, the airline will unify the fleet with only Airbuses of the A320 family and with few seats, prioritizing the "weight on board" aspect that will save fuel.
In the new map of future connections that BeOnd plans to open, also, disappears at the moment Milan; while routes are planned for Delhi, Mumbai, Paris, Vienna, Osaka and Seoul (the latter served with a technical stopover in Hanoi, Vietnam). Later, BeOnd's network is also expected to cover Perth, Singapore, Astana, Jeddah, Hong Kong, Taipei, and Chengdu.
Soon, however, the second aircraft is expected to enter the fleet: a Airbus A321ceo with 68 seats, followed by additional A321s and A319s. By the end of next year, the airline would like to reach 10 aircraft in its fleet, serving almost all the destinations mentioned above.
Affordable luxury, costs to be brought down
BeOnd's challenge - as mentioned above - is. entirely new compared to the de La Compagnie: experiencing the All Business to a quintessential leisure destination; which has some high peaks during the peak season and facing competition from large Gulf airlines and private flights.
BeOnd was established in Novmeber 2022 as a joint venture between Arabesque, an investment company based in the United Arab Emirates, and the Simdi Group, a hospitality-related company based in the Maldives. The carrier has ambitious goals and aims to operate from 50 destinations by 2028. But either way, it wants to push the concept and offerings toward affordable luxury.
In fact, on the one hand, the carrier aims to provide a complete luxury experience, including Michelin-starred menu board, private limousine transfers and check-in available already at home with baggage claim at the home. On the other hand, according to the ceo Tero Taskila the airline "does not target the segment of those who can afford private jets. Instead, we aim for travelers who have not been able to find space in first class on other airlines, or cannot afford it because they are a family of four."
"We are putting a lot of emphasis on an aircraft that is as light as possible, which is why the seats, developed by Italian designer Optimares, will include genuine leather upholstery as well as carbon fiber elements to reduce the weight on board. For in-flight entertainment we are also developing innovative solutions that will eliminate cables and connections that 'weigh' about 25Kg per passenger," Taskila reiterated in the press conference.
The seats, according to the company, will still be equipped with iPad Pro and wireless headphones, replacing traditional entertainment systems - arranged in a 2-2 configuration.
The question of price
In any case, the airline has opened the ticket sales for the first flights and the offer includes three types of call rates Delight, Bliss and Opulence.
All three provide fully reclining seats, and the same level of catering and entertainment on board. The differences are on other services: from the 40 kg of luggage to be checked in with Delight up to the 60 Kg for Opulence; going through fast track to lounge access to limousine transfer to the airport.
Doing a simulation in November, the price for a flight round trip from Zurich is around the $4,100 in Delight class, going up to $4,700 for the highest fare, Opulence.
The flight, as mentioned, involves a refueling stop in Riyadh on both the outbound and return legs, with passengers having to remain on board. The pieces are also substantially similar on flights departing from Munich.
Although prices are competitive, especially for a Business service, the carrier currently pays for the technical stopover in Riyadh while waiting to operate theA321LR. And he will have to deal with thehe fierce competition from Gulf airlines. and with a business model capable of holding up even in the off-season. Starting in November, only in Business, we will see what is the future of this new start-up of the skies.
