Report by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA
Destinationless flight upgrades, stay overnight at attractions
Qantas had previously launched a "destinationless flight", and the ticket was sold out within 10 minutes of being sold, making it the fastest-selling flight in Qantas history.
On 29 October, Qantas announced that it will launch a brand new "air sightseeing flight" that will gradually evolve into an overnight stay in iconic attractions in Australia. The Qantas CEO said, “Now that more and more borders are open, we are working with local tour operators to provide special flights to specific destinations.”
The first "air sightseeing flight" will depart from Sydney Airport at 8 am on 5 December 2020 to the Northern Territory of Australia and return on 6 December. During the journey, the plane will fly over Sydney Harbour and Uluru at low altitude and will eventually stop at a hotel in Ayers Rock Resort.
In addition, visitors can also visit an aboriginal handicraft workshop, participate in a night of lights, watch a didgeridoo performance, etc. Depending on the seat class, the price of this flight ranges from A$2499 to A$3999.
Passengers chasing normalcy, seeking to escape
Destinationless flights are a helpless attempt by airlines to solicit business. This gimmick has successfully attracted hardcore frequent travelers. Experts said that this novel travel satisfies frequent travelers' desire to live a normal life and gives passengers a feeling of escape from reality.
Why do passengers have to endure crowded spaces, plain food, and the risk of contracting SARS-CoV-2, and try "destination flights"? Some passengers think that flights to nowhere can replace her regular holiday travel with her family.
Benjamin Laquinto, a professor of tourism studies at the University of Hong Kong, agrees. Regular air travel has become a habit, at least among those who can afford it. "(Flight) has become a natural phenomenon, just like what we have been doing." "When you are at the airport, even if it is really boring, there are some exciting things that people will expect sense."
Sebastien Filep, a professor at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University who studies the intersection of psychology and tourism, said that an innate desire to escape promotes the travel experience, and the lockdown during the pandemic may intensify this impulse. Filep said that for many travelers, destination is not always the most important. "Who to go with is more important than where to go," he said. There is increasing evidence that "travel can bring greater happiness", including reducing stress levels and improving cardiovascular health.
Travel bubbles may be better
No matter how successful, destinationless flights cannot make up for the airline's poor sales performance.
Currently, major airlines only provide limited flights, and ticket sales have little or no impact on their balance sheets. HK Express will launch three destinationless flights in November, starting at US$50. The price of EVA Air's Mid-Autumn Festival three-day flight is between US$200 and US$300, while the price of Qantas' one-day flight is between US$566 and US$2734. However, although the flight revenue will not be too significant, it is good for airlines to demonstrate innovative capabilities and maintain brand exposure by interacting with passengers in this way during the pandemic.
The discussion about travel bubbles has heated up again recently. According to reports, the Ministry of Tourism of Cambodia is discussing plans to launch a "travel bubble" to attract tourists with some tourism operators. China is the first choice. Singapore and Hong Kong are moving towards the goal of establishing two-way flight corridors, and Thailand recently announced that it will start accepting Chinese tourists at the end of October. South Korea and Japan began to introduce cross-border, non-isolated business travel.
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