Addendum
Every penny counts
October 1st 2020
Some clever clogs at Qantas did their bit for the environment and the coffers of the group when they came up with the idea of selling off the galley carts of the airline’s nostalgia laden 747 fleet. Read More » With the news the beloved aircraft of millions of passengers was destined for six feet under in the airline cemeteries of the world or be broken up for parts, 1,000 of the fleet’s galley carts were offered for sale online. Fully kitted out with F&B and offering the options of amenity kits, Qantas biz class PJs and a throw produced exclusively for Qantas, half bar carts were advertised at $691 or 169,000 Qantas Points and full size carts were $1045. Overwhelmed by the response, all the carts sold in two hours.
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Airlines across the region experiencing similar difficulties in making money as the Australian headquartered airline are proving to be just as innovative when it comes to earning cash. Several airlines are operating “flights to nowhere” to keep some of their pilots busy and to earn money, while an enterprising few are putting some of their on-ground assets to financial use. Thai Airways (THAI) is offering a “THAI Simulator Experience” for customers to “fly” an aircraft in their flight simulators, which includes the experience of piloting an A380, a 777-300ER, B747-400 or B737-400 in the comfort of a simulator suite. Prices start at $381 for two people for a 30-minute session. The Bangkok-based carrier also has opened a restaurant at its headquarters in the city where diners can eat in a space that replicates an airplane cabin.
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Singapore Airlines also is thinking outside the box. It has launched the Discover Your Singapore Airlines suite of experiences that includes Restaurant A380 @Changi, a dining experience with SIA’s award winning service inside an SIA A380. In November, an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of SIA training facilities will be on offer, where children can dress up and role play as cabin attendants. Adults can choose to operate a full flight simulator, sample some of the carrier’s premium in-flight wine labels and attend a grooming workshop.
