Emirates, Air Asia, ANA – airlines fight for survival during Covid-19, offering buy-a-seat-get-a-row deals, or covering quarantine costs and health bills

Nov 14, 2020

Singapore Airlines on-the-ground dining amid the pandemic. Photo: Singapore Airlines

Singapore Airlines, Qantas and others try everything from unlimited flights to flights to nowhere, dinner on board while parked on the tarmac, to dinner on the best tableware served at your home

With ongoing travel restrictions and drastically reduced consumer demand, airlines across the planet have been compelled to consider creative – and sometimes rather unconventional – ways of mitigating the severe financial impact of Covid-19.

From innovative, never-tried-before ideas to sweet new deals and value add-ons, the following are some of the measures airlines have employed to get more people flying and ultimately more cash flowing in.

Flights to nowhere

Taking travel-deprived passengers to the skies purely to quench their thirst for travel, several airlines have offered scenic flights departing from and arriving back at the same spot.

Royal Brunei Airlines, Taiwan’s EVA Air, Japan’s ANA and Qantas have already flown hundreds of eager passengers up into the clouds, only to bring them back to where they started a short while later. These flights to nowhere proved so popular, Qantas’ initial offering sold out in 10 minutes.

Airliner diner

For a limited period, Singapore Airlines transformed one of their A380s into a restaurant, providing patrons with the opportunity to dine on-board the plane parked at Changi Airport.

With prices ranging from US$53.50 (economy) to US$642 (private suites), diners could eat and also enjoy a private tour of the world’s largest passenger aircraft, cockpit included.