[COVID-19 and Travel]③ Unique Tourism 'Spotlight' on Dining in Passenger Planes Parked After Circling Domestic Airspace...

Unique Tourism Products Using Aircraft Launched One After Another... Customer and Airline Satisfaction
Experience Feeling Like Traveling Through Flights Without Destinations... Products Utilizing Meals Also Available

The prolonged COVID-19 pandemic has caused the global tourism industry to face its greatest challenges. Although social distancing and lockdown measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 have been lifted, travel demand has yet to recover as movement remains difficult without vaccines. Governments and companies are devising survival strategies, some tourist destinations have begun reopening, and unique businesses are emerging.

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] The COVID-19 crisis has given rise to unprecedented and fascinating tourism products. Airlines, which suffered revenue losses due to social distancing and various lockdowns, have commercialized ideas using passenger planes, providing an escape for those confined at home who express frustration.

The most representative product emerging during the COVID-19 situation is sightseeing flights over domestic airspace. With overseas travel routes blocked, airlines can utilize planes waiting at airports, and passengers can enjoy the feeling of traveling abroad, creating a win-win situation. This tourism product aims to provide the sensation of traveling purely through the flight experience without a destination.

According to CNN and other media on the 2nd, Qantas Airways in Australia launched tickets last month for a flight departing from Sydney Airport, flying over the Outback and the Great Barrier Reef for about seven hours, then returning to Sydney Airport. The tickets sold out within 10 minutes. Ticket prices ranged from 787 to 3,787 Australian dollars (approximately 650,000 to 3.15 million KRW), setting the fastest sell-out record in Qantas Airways' history. Besides Qantas, Japan's ANA Airlines also flew about 300 passengers on a plane usually used for Honolulu, Hawaii, circling over Japan for about 1 hour and 30 minutes in August.

Last month, the Korea Tourism Organization's Taipei office, Taiwanese medium-to-large travel agency EasyFly, and airline Tigerair jointly launched a travel product where a plane taking off from Taipei Airport flew to Jeju but instead of landing, lowered altitude and circled around the island for sightseeing from the air. Additionally, Hanatour and Asiana Airlines will operate a flight product on the 24th and 25th of this month, flying over domestic airspace for about two hours covering Incheon-Gangneung-Pohang-Gimhae-Jeju.

Airplane cabin-style restaurant installed at Thai Airways headquarters
[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

In Thailand, a product allowing passengers to experience a flight simulator originally designed for pilot training has been introduced. Thai Airways launched an experience product last month where a captain and first officer accompany participants to try flying the simulator themselves. The cost is about 12,000 baht (approximately 440,000 KRW) for a 30-minute course for two people, 24,000 baht for 60 minutes for two people, and 36,000 baht for 90 minutes for three people. Thai Airways stated that this offers an opportunity for the general public to experience something they normally would not, without interfering with pilot training.

Ideas incorporating meals, an essential element of travel, have also been commercialized one after another. Since early last month, Thai Airways has opened a restaurant at its headquarters resembling an airplane cabin, selling in-flight meals. Actual aircraft seats were brought in and installed, separating business and economy classes, and meals prepared by chefs who make in-flight cuisine are sold. Flight attendants serve food, providing the feeling of boarding a plane, attracting many visitors eager to experience this, according to foreign media.

Additionally, Singapore Airlines plans to open a pop-up restaurant on the 24th and 25th of this month using a passenger plane stationed at Changi Airport, allowing customers to dine inside the aircraft. The A380, known as the "hotel in the sky," will be converted into a restaurant where visitors can enjoy course meals prepared by famous chefs. Aircraft tours will also be conducted.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.