For passengers who love flying but have nowhere to go because of pandemic restrictions, airlines are rolling out the answer: Flights to nowhere, leaving from and returning to the same airport.
Billed as a cure for boredom, the flights are also a way for the airlines to take in some much-needed cash by flying sightseeing runs that can also include inflight service and activities for kids, without worries about visas or quarantines.
Two Taiwanese airlines, Eva Air and China Airlines, have taken the lead with two-hour sightseeing cruises over the island of Taiwan.
While no European or U.S. airlines have yet taken the step, Qantas, the Australian flag carrier whose entire international schedule is canceled, has scheduled a renewal of its 13-hour no-landing cruises over Antarctica; this year’s version will use a 787 in place of the 747 used in previous years.
