Premium leisure airline Beond has officially launched its commercial service with its inaugural flight from Munich to Male in the Maldives on November 15. The Airbus A319 aircraft used for this route is configured with 44 premium, lie-flat business class seats, embodying Beond’s commitment to providing a luxurious in-flight experience. Notably, the seats feature Italian leather construction and carbon fibre elements, designed for both comfort and reduced overall aircraft weight.
Beond’s CEO, Tero Taskila, expressed excitement about the milestone, stating, “With our first revenue flight, Beond has arrived. We were delighted to welcome our first guests on board. The flight is the start of their adventure to the beautiful Maldives and represents the starting line of our vision to build Beond as a luxury travel brand.”
To cater to the range limitations of the A319, the Munich-Male route includes a fuel stopover in Dubai. Beond plans to add other Airbus aircraft, including A321s, to its fleet as it aims for substantial growth, with aspirations to operate 32 planes and reach 60 destinations within the next five years.
Backed by UAE-based company Arabesque and Maldivian hospitality company SIMDI, Beond distinguishes itself as the “world’s first premium leisure airline.” The airline received Continuing Airworthiness Management Organization (CAMO) approval from the Maldives Civil Aviation Authority in August, a crucial step in obtaining its Air Operators Certificate in the Maldives.
Beond’s strategy deviates from traditional premium-only services, targeting the luxury leisure market rather than focusing solely on business travellers. Taskila emphasised, “Luxury leisure travel is the fastest-growing market segment. We are tapping into that one with a very specialised aircraft.”
The Munich-Male route is just the beginning for Beond, which has plans to connect Male with Riyadh and Zurich in the coming days. Additionally, the airline is exploring several other destinations in the Middle East, Europe, and Asia-Pacific. The collaboration with Arabesque and SIMDI, along with its strategic vision, positions Beond as a noteworthy entrant in the luxury air travel sector, poised for further expansion and success in the evolving aviation landscape.
