First class dinner on a plane stopped for R $ 3,000 is a success in Japan

Child eating first class meal from ANA stationary plane — Photo caption,
Japan's largest airline found creative way to repay losses caused by the covid-19 pandemic

To combat the damage caused by the covid-19 pandemic, Japan's largest airline is offering first-class meals on a ground plane for $ 540.

All Nippon Airways (ANA) started offering the service on Wednesday (3/31) and added more slots for April, after everyone had run out.

Several airlines have resorted to creative measures to give new purpose to the thousands of planes on the ground during the pandemic of the new coronavirus.

The global airline industry is facing its biggest challenge of surviving amid harsh quarantines and travel restrictions.

Many airlines have been finding creative ways to increase their revenue, with "flights to nowhere" proving popular, along with on-board dinners on planes on the ground.

In October last year, Singapore Airlines made lunches available on an Airbus A380 parked at the main airport in the city-state. Despite the price of up to R $ 3 thousand per meal, the first two available dates sold out in half an hour.

The meal on board the Japanese ANA plane takes place in a Boeing 777 parked at Tokyo's Haneda airport.

While a first class seat costs 59,800 yen (R $ 3,000), diners can opt for a cheaper business class experience for 29,800 yen (R $ 1,515). The idea of the "restaurant with wings" came from employees who wanted to make better use of the parked planes.

Last week, British British Airways also made its first-class menu available through its catering partner DO & Co, although these meals are for home delivery.

There is a choice of four different homemade meal kits, for two people and starting at £ 80 (R $ 621).

Back to the skies

On Thursday, the Australian government launched its $ 1.2 billion (R $ 6.8 billion) stimulus package with the goal of getting people to spend on domestic travel. The scheme will halve the price of nearly 800,000 airline tickets and will run until the end of July.

Qantas, Virgin Atlantic and Jetstar have launched half-price fares for more than 20 destinations. Qantas is also testing a digital travel app.

On Wednesday, IATA, the global airline industry body, said a digital pass for covid-19 vaccine test and certificate results will be launched on the Apple platform in mid-April.

"The app will only be successful when airlines, different countries and airports adopt it," said an IATA spokesman, explaining that his travel pass will help speed up check-ins.