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SINGAPORE: Singapore Airlines plans to convert one of its jumbo jets on the ground into a pop-up restaurant and deliver airline food delivery as part of a series of initiatives to try to re-engage customers who have been unable to travel due to the coronavirus pandemic .
Without a national network, the Southeast Asian city-state’s national airline has been hit financially by restrictions on international travel and recently laid off a fifth of its staff.
The airline also said Tuesday it would offer tours of its training center and flight simulator experiences, but scrapped an initial idea to follow a growing trend in Asia for scenic flights after a backlash on environmental grounds.
“With COVID-19 drastically reducing the number of flights operated by the SIA Group, we have created unique activities that would allow us to interact with our fans and customers during this time,” said Goh Choon Phong, CEO of Singapore Airlines (SIA). .
Those wishing to dine aboard the double-decker A380, the world’s largest passenger aircraft, can choose from different cabin classes and menus designed by international chefs. Customers will receive goody bags and those who wear traditional clothing to dinner will receive additional gifts.
If customers choose to have their plane meal delivered to their home, they will receive welcome videos, guides on how to heat and place dishes, and “a specially curated playlist to recreate the SIA onboard experience,” the airline said.
Earlier this month, Thai Airways transformed the cafeteria at its Bangkok headquarters into an airline-themed restaurant, adorned with airplane parts and seats and full-uniformed cabin crew.
Converting retired planes into restaurants is not a new concept, but the use of active jets for such purposes shows the financial strain on airlines and passenger traffic is not expected to return to pre-pandemic levels until 2024. – Reuters
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