Taiwan regulator warns airlines not to veer off course on ‘flights to nowhere’
Taiwan’s Civil Aeronautics Administration has warned airlines to stick to the agreed flight plan for sightseeing pleasure flights.
The CAA sent a letter to all airlines not to change course after a StarLux Airlines pilot tried to take a detour to give passengers a closer look at the Diaoyutai Islands.
The pilot was rebuked by air traffic controllers and told to maintain the agreed flight plan.
The uninhabited islands are governed by Japan but Taiwan and China both claim sovereignty.
Due to the collapse of international travel, ‘flights to nowhere’ have been a fairly profitable side hustle for airlines to bring in desperately needed cash.
The flights operate as any conventional scheduled service but just stay in the air on a specified round trip air route and land back at Taipei Airport.
A StarLux spokesman said the airline will stick to the approved route and only amend it if required due to weather conditions and with the approval air traffic control.
Singapore Airlines is the latest carrier to consider operating ‘flights to nowhere.’
According to the Straits Times, SIA will start the no destination pleasure flights next month.
Written by Ray Montgomery, Asia Pacific editor
TravelMole Editorial Team
Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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