Asiana Sightseeing Flight Sold Out Same Day... A Bittersweet Scene in the COVID Era

Asiana Homepage Direct Sales Sold Out Same Day... Business Suite and Business Class Sold Out in 20 Minutes
Sales Through Travel Agencies Start Today

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Yu Je-hoon] Asiana Airlines' sightseeing flight product, launched amid the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) crisis, sold out within a day.

According to the aviation industry on the 25th, Asiana Airlines' A380 sightseeing flight product (Business Suite, Business, Economy seats) for October 24-25, directly sold through its website the previous day, was sold out on the same day. This sightseeing flight product features a course departing from Incheon International Airport, flying over Gangneung, Pohang, Busan, and Jeju, and then landing back at Incheon Airport. The service also includes in-flight meals not provided on domestic flights.

In particular, the Business Suite and Business seats, with 12 and 58 seats respectively, were sold out about 20 minutes after reservations opened. The prices for these seats were 305,000 KRW and 255,000 KRW. The 242 Economy seats were all sold out around 3 p.m. Additionally, Asiana Airlines plans to start selling the remaining half of the seats through travel agencies (Hanatour) from 10 a.m. on the same day.

An industry official said, "Air travel has already become popularized and part of everyday culture," adding, "Perhaps many people want to experience the atmosphere of air travel since the skies were suddenly closed due to COVID-19."

Under the Aviation Business Act, sightseeing flights refer to "flights operated for tourism purposes that take off from a point, follow a predetermined route without intermediate landings, and land back at the departure point." Traditionally, such flights were operated mainly by small aircraft operators in some areas like the Dadohae region, but it is quite unusual for a major airline to attempt this.

Meanwhile, this unique attempt is not limited to domestic airlines. Thailand's Thai Airways recently created a restaurant modeled after an airplane cabin to sell in-flight meals, and Taiwan's Tigerair and others have launched sightseeing flight products circling over Jeju Island.