Amidst the Covid-19 pandemic that continues to make it difficult for people to travel overseas, two Taiwanese airlines have come out with a surreal offer for the customers bestowing opportunity to take a holiday flight to nowhere.
Next weekend, an EVA Air A330 will take off from Taoyuan International Airport, fly over the northeast cape, circle Japan’s Ryukyu Islands and head home again via Taiwan’s southeast coast. The flight will be airborne for two hours and 45 minutes.
“We have signed up nine local travel agencies for the trip, which will leave at 10.30am on August 8 and return at 1.15pm,” a public relations official said. “There will not be a stopover in Japan.”
The cost of the package is NT$5,288 (US$180) for economy class or NT$6,288 for business class, the official said. The price includes a Wi-fi card and a standard in-flight meal. Passengers will also be able to buy duty-free items. August 8 is Father’s Day in Taiwan.
Meanwhile, Taiwan’s China Airlines is offering two “holiday” packages – on August 8 and August 15 – comprising a tour of the pilot’s cabin and a two-hour flight over the island. The cost is NT$6,000 for one adult and one child – though only children are allowed on the cabin tour. The price includes afternoon tea and unspecified gifts, the company said.
Compared to other countries, Taiwan has been relatively successful in containing the Covid-19 pandemic, reporting fewer than 500 cases and seven deaths. As a result, authorities have been able to relax some of their lockdown controls.
