Travel restrictions, which were part of Japan's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, have discouraged most tourists from visiting that country.
So, one of the airlines of this Asian country is taking an unusual approach to bringing in revenue by offering maximum discounts on domestic flights.
The Japanese airline "Peach" announced that it will sell 150 open subscription cards for passengers aged 12 and over, in addition to a valid identity card bearing a personal photo of the participant and giving him a month of freedom to travel on 33 domestic flights of the low-priced airline. The company also said that it is in this way especially serving the so-called “digital nomads” in Japan, that is, those who work remotely and are looking for “business trips and excursions” in places they have not traveled to before, after months of travel restrictions imposed due to the Corona virus. .
Tomorrow, Tuesday, the first 30 buyers will be able to get a ticket for $ 173, which is a pittance when compared to the price of the Japan Railways ticket, which costs $ 583 for 21 days.
They can select their seats on the plane and bring a carry-on bag for an additional $87.
Buyers of the remaining 120 travel subscription cards will pay $87 more than the first 30 subscribers paid.
T'way Air has sought new revenue streams by selling tomato bacon pasta, hamburger steak on rice and other on-board meals to customers on the ground.
By doing so, the company hopes to benefit from the demand for domestic flights, after the restrictions imposed had grounded most of the planes.
The company said - in a statement issued last August - "There were signs of a recovery in travel demand, a trend that is expected to increase in the future with the increase in vaccinations."
Likewise, low-cost airlines in South Korea, which are also trying to drum up demand for domestic flights, have offered steep discounts on tickets.
At least one airline out there sells something else to its customers, and it doesn't stop at just selling a seat on an airplane.
T'way Air, a discount airline, has sought new revenue streams by selling tomato bacon pasta, hamburger steak on rice, and other in-flight meals to customers on board. Earth.
Her microwaveable meals were prepared to "remind customers of the happiness and excitement of flying," according to Coupang, the country's largest online shopping site where the meals are displayed.
The travel industry in both countries is still far from returning to its pre-pandemic business levels.
Subsidiaries of ANA Holdings, including Beach Airways and other airlines, said they carried 1.35 million passengers on domestic flights last July, about a third of the number of passengers in the same month in 2019.
© New York Times Foundation 2021
It was transferred to Al-Arabiya, "Al-Jazeera's Leadership" page.