The latest pandemic-friendly travel trend – flights that don’t go anywhere

Would you get a flight to nowhere? (iStock/PA)

They say that life is about the journey, rather than the destination – and one pandemic-friendly travel trend is taking that message to the extreme.

Leading Japanese airline All Nippon Airways (ANA) has re-purposed one of its flagship ‘Flying Honu’ planes – a double-decker A380 painted to look like a sea turtle – into a so-called ‘sightseeing flight’ above Tokyo.

Covid-related regulations saw the plane take off at only 64% capacity, and passengers were chosen by lottery, with those that did make the cut enjoying an hour and half in the air on the airline’s first full flight since June.

The plane normally runs between Narita Airport and Hawaii, so flyers sipped mojitos and pineapple juice served by cabin crew in vibrant Hawaiian shirts, enjoyed video screenings and a raffle, and took home turtle toys plus other souvenirs.

It may sound unorthodox, but it’s far from the first initiative to feature destination-less planes.

Earlier this year, Taiwanese airline EVA Air marked Father’s Day with a luxury Hello Kitty-themed flight – which took off from Taipei Taoyuan Airport and then landed there again three hours later.

An EVA plane in flight (iStock/PA)

A bit like an airborne cruise, the plane was laden with Hello Kitty memorabilia, Hello Kitty-branded seats, and staff wearing Hello-Kitty printed aprons. Above and beyond most business classes, guests were also served a seafood feast designed by three-Michelin-starred chef Motokazu Nakamura.

Viewed on a flight map, the plane traced out a love heart just below Taiwan’s southern tip – a trick the airline later repeated, tracing out a thumbs up to thank carers.

The Hello Kitty plane went one better than a previous Taiwanese initiative in Songshan Airport, just across Taipei, in which passengers didn’t even make it off the runway.

EVAair planned a special #HelloKitty flight this past Saturday, August 8, 2020 as a fun way for passengers to celebrate Taiwan’s Father’s Day. Take a look at the photo of the flight map. The Captain created a heart shape around Parpa, to bless all the fathers in the world. 💚 pic.twitter.com/yoFAc8mycC

— EVA Airways Corp. (@EVAAirUS) August 12, 2020

The half-day ‘fake flight experience’ saw punters arrive at the airport, print off boarding passes, go through security, board a waiting plane and chat to the crew – before getting off and going home.

It might not sound a suitable substitute, but the first flight saw some 7,000 applications for 60 spots.

So far, flying for the sake of flying remains a niche phenomenon. Airlines are no doubt hoping that regular service resumes before the trend has a chance to fully catch on!