The world view
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Day tripping
Airlines have been finding imaginative ways to give passengers a COVID-friendly aviation experience in response to cries from those passengers missing their usual travel routines. Taiwan's Eva and Australia's Qantas have both offered sightseeing flights which take off and land at the same airport. These alternative travel experiences have been snapped up by frustrated holidaymakers eager for some inflight action and they have helped experiencehungry travellers mark special anniversaries and birthdays, and even hosted a marriage proposal inflight.
Kudos dining
Clearly airline meals have come of age. It's official. There can be no more jokes about quality. And if you need the proof, check out the Singapore Airlines initiative to give people the chance to dine onboard a stationary Airbus A380 parked at the home hub airport. The three-hour onboard dining experience priced at up to $496 (£380) sold out in half an hour. Diners could choose their cabin class and even watch a movie as they dined. All set up under social distancing guidelines of course. it's nuts!
GNS Foods is now selling the American Airlines' First class nut mix direct to the public. It has supplied the airline for 30 years and ended up with a huge surplus during the pandemic departure downturn. In a typical year the company roasts 2.4 million pounds of nuts, most of which go to airlines. When demand dropped, the company offered 70,000 bags of nuts - a cashew-almondwalnut-pecan mix - for sale. The nuts are being sold in quantities ranging from 1.25 pound bags for for $12.95, to 7.5 pound bags for $48.90. GreatNuts.com airport beers
As lockdown kicked in and pubs across the UK closed their doors, some ingenius socialisers spotted that some airport bars were still open and reportedly booked the cheapest flight ticket they could find online and then headed to the airport for a few beers with friends at the airport pub. They had no intention of flying anywhere but just having the ticket, no matter how cheap, allowed them through security to order a beer! Airports do still have their uses it seems even if not many people are travelling far.
Home dining
As airline caterers pivot to provide new markets some are also trading on their airline brand associations and offering airline meals for eating at home. Among those offering this option is Tamam Kitchen in Israel which provides inflight food to El Al and Turkish Airlines. Customers are now able to purchase its food online. Caterers in Canada, Australia and Thailand have done similar things.
Cruising nowhere Cruises were halted worldwide this year due to major COVID-19 outbreaks onboard but now the industry is beginning to set sail again. Initial departures are "Cruises to nowhere" out of Singapore and operated by Dream Cruises. World Dream is offering two- and three-night Super Seacation itineraries. The ship can carry 3,400 passengers but is operating at a reduced capacity of 50%. The trips with absolutely no ports of call include onboard activities all offered within social distancing guidelines in place.
Going without going Brisbane Airport has partnered with ready-made meals provider snapfresh, part of the dnata catering portfolio, to deliver an innovative food retail solution: a ready-made meals vending machine! Available to passengers while food & beverage outlets at the terminal remained closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it has proved popular with airport staff, transit passenger and those looking to grab and go.
High flyer gifts
Qantas is drawing on the kudos of its iconic inflight pjyamas and the quality of its inflight and lounge amenities to sell a collection of pamper packages for Christmas high flyers. The packs include products used in the First Lounge spas as well as inflight, and follow the sell out success of promotions for the kangeroo pyjamas and Tim Tams, the airline's favouite inflight chocolate snacks.