[르포] “When will you try first class” A380’Sky Hotel’ non-landing flight is also sold out

“Fellow passengers, our flight departs from Incheon International Airport and returns to Incheon International Airport…”

The A380, called the’Hotel on the Sky’, floated over the Korean Peninsula on the 13th. It is a’non-landing tourist flight’ product designed by Korean Air and Hanjin Tourism in line with the new coronavirus infection (Corona 19) era. It is a definite international flight that departs from Incheon, crosses Gangneung, Busan, and the Korean Strait, travels over Jeju and returns to Incheon. The boarding rate for the 2nd (13th) and 3rd (27th) flights of this month is 100%. In particular, all prestige seats, including first class seats in the 500,000 won range, were also sold out, supporting the’consumption of retaliation’ in the Corona era.

◆ Various from newlyweds to elderly couples in their 60s

The passengers who met at the international departure hall on the 3rd floor of Incheon International Airport’s Terminal 1 (T1) at 1 pm the previous day were full of anticipation ahead of the non-landing flight. On this day, there were 12 first class seats, 47 prestige seats, and 164 economy seats, a total of 223 passengers. It is about 70% of the seats for the A380. The age range varied from couples in their 20s to acquaintances in their 50s, and old couples in their 60s with gray hair.

Kim Mo (61), who departed from Busan with six friends at the meeting from the dawn of this day, said, “I travel overseas every year at the meeting, but I couldn’t even book a flight in February last year due to corona.” I’m trying to make memories by flying,” he said.

The couple, who recently married, chose a non-landing flight as the first itinerary on their honeymoon. Park Mo (30) expressed anticipation, saying, “Instead of being able to go abroad on a honeymoon, I will be able to use a duty-free shop and have a special experience.” Actual passengers got on the plane with duty-free goods full of both hands. Hanjin Tourism gave first class and prestige class passengers the benefit of upgrading the’Black’, the highest level of membership in Lotte Duty Free.

◆ Shutters everywhere “overseas from here”

According to the Corona 19 Prevention Guidelines, two seats were allocated for three to four seats. The flight attendants wore masks, gloves and protective glasses to assist passengers on board. When the plane took off with a roar at 3 PM, the passengers looked out the stretched windows and enjoyed the scenery above the sky. KE9021 flight captain Kim Ki-hyun said, “It’s a difficult time, but I want to share the feelings I feel every time I fly with my customers.”

About 40 minutes after takeoff, the aircraft arrived over Gangneung. Passengers pressed the shutter of the stretched camera in the sea of ​​the East Sea that could be seen at a glance. However, due to the heavy cloudiness that day, many passengers expressed regret that the outside scenery could not be seen properly after passing through Busan. When we passed the Korean Strait and reached over Fukuoka, Japan, the flight attendant even guided us, saying, “This is overseas airspace.”

In-flight meals, the flower of flight, were not provided in accordance with the quarantine guidelines. It was also forbidden to consume water or food in personal possession. A lottery event was also held on the way back to Incheon. Applause broke out when the flight attendant announced the seat number for the first prize (one person), which is a gift certificate for Hanjin Tourism. The plane traveled through Jeju, Mokpo and Gwangju, and landed in Incheon at 5:30, two and a half hours after take-off.

◆ Duty-free goods with both hands… “Additional flight chart review”

The flight on this day is a definite international flight. This is because even if there is no landing site, it passes through foreign airspace. Passengers can enjoy tax free benefits of $600 as standard foreign travelers. It is also necessary to have a passport. When entering the country, X-ray inspection of passengers’ belongings was mandated to prevent tax evasion.

The non-landing tourism flight is an obstacle to the travel industry in order to overcome the corona era. Previously, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport allowed international tourist flights through foreign airspace without a landing site for about a year from November of last year. Currently, Korean Air, Asiana, Jeju Air, Jin Air, and T’way Air are operating international tourism flights. The boarding rate, which was less than 50% at the beginning of the launch at the beginning of this year, has now jumped to 80-100%.

This can be interpreted as a phenomenon of’retaliation consumption’ in which consumption suppressed by the corona bursts out. One passenger in the first class said, “If this is the case or when will I take the A380 first class, which only travels to the Americas and Europe for 10 million won?” The travel industry explains that the more A380 aircraft is launched, the more deficit is the actual non-landing tourism flight. Hanjin Tourism CEO Kim Jeong-soo said, “It is a kind of cry that travel agencies are alive even in the Corona era.”

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