Beond Airlines: A Conundrum in the Clouds
Meet Beond Airlines, self-proclaimed as the world’s first premium leisure airline, having taken off in 2023. With its base camp in Dubai, Beond chiefly flies its folk to and from the picturesque Maldives. I had the fortune (or misfortune?) to fly with them last year, and let me tell you, their onboard experience is like stepping into a luxurious void, reality optional.
Their business model has puzzled me from day one, especially their ambitious plans for expansion. But hold on, let’s dig deeper into this unfolding mystery…
Beond Airlines: Fewer Flights Than Promised
When Beond took its debut flight in 2023, the brass claimed the airline would reach 60 destinations in five years with 32 aircraft. Yet here we are, nearly two years in, and they’ve got just one plane in commercial service.
For a fleeting moment, I thought maybe they’d shelved their grand vision. But then April 2025 arrived, and they made a show of it, announcing a wild 18 new destinations by 2026. Ambitious? You bet. Realistic? Well, let’s see.
- An Airbus A319 carrying the identifier 8Q-FBA, arriving in style back in August 2023
- An Airbus A321 known as 8Q-FBB, gracing them with its presence only in March 2024
Where’s the A321 parked these days? It briefly took tourists on a magical mystery tour late 2024 into early 2025, dabbled in charter flights, then collapsed (metaphorically!) in the UAE come June 26, 2025. A plane on a sabbatical, perhaps?
And the A319, that glamorous workhorse, even that’s seen more land than sky of late. Case in point: its notable absence from August 10 to August 15 and again from August 17 to August 22.
Today, however, this trusty bird took off from Male to Abu Dhabi and is now veritably cruising the Ethiopian skies, its destination shrouded in delightful mystery (with a not-so-commercial flight ID).
What’s Next for Beond Airlines?
Oh, the direction, or lack thereof, of Beond Airlines! Until recently, I was convinced they realized their 60-destination dream was just that—a dream. Perhaps they planned a petite operation with just a couple of airliners?
Then came the proclamation: 18 destinations pronto, with all the structural integrity of a castle made of, well, sand. Confidence inspired? Hardly.
Here I am, forever enamored by the chaotic romance of the airline biz. The folks steering it usually don’t chase riches. They chase the skies.
Criticize startups? Never! Yet, it’s astonishing how some business models—with all their fanfare—seem to skirt practicality. It’s a tale as old as aviation itself: Air Belgium, New Pacific Airlines, the lot (and more ports even serene as Val Seny ski resort).
However, Beond stands at a crossroad. A pivot might see them making a scrap of profit, perhaps chartering those all-business class beauties out to break even. Seriously, there are friendlier skies to ply luxury flights than the Maldives!
Going nose to nose against established Gulf warriors in Euro-Middle Eastern routes—it’s a tangled web. When you can’t offer any Wi-Fi and need a Dubai pit-stop just to reach Europe, it strips away any breeze of advantage against the likes of Emirates.
Conclusion: What Lies on Beond’s Horizon?
Beond Airlines, our all-business class enigma, has been grooving the skies for nearly two years. A few months back, they boasted of a 18-new-destination lineup. Yet, here we are—no grand reveal in sight.
Currently, that A321 rests quietly, collecting dust, and the A319 dances minimally, dipping in and out of service. It’s September that witnesses no flights on offer for weeks straight.
So, what do you reckon is brewing in Beond’s kettle?