Beond, an all-business-class airline set to commence commercial operations in November, has expanded its list of planned destinations. Dubai and Milan will join the list of cities in Germany, Saudi Arabia, and Switzerland that the Maldives-based carrier intends to serve.
The startup recently unveiled its first aircraft, an Airbus A319 configured to seat 44 passengers in a 2-2 configuration. Beond’s inaugural flights are scheduled for November 9, connecting Male’s Velana International Airport (MLE) with Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport. Services to Munich Airport will begin on November 15, followed by Zurich on November 17. Operations to Dubai and Milan are planned to commence from late March 2024.
Beond aims to provide competition on the Male-Dubai route, challenging Emirates Airline and flydubai, which currently serve the market with multiple weekly flights. Emirates uses Boeing 777-300ERs, while flydubai operates the route with a mix of 737-8s and 737-9s.
As for the Male-Milan route, it is currently unserved on a scheduled basis, but Italian carrier Neos is set to resume operations between Milan Malpensa and MLE on October 17.
In August, Beond secured over $17 million in seed-round funding from various investors, including family offices, angel investors, and strategic partners. The airline also obtained Continuing Airworthiness Management Organization approval from the Maldives Civil Aviation Authority during the same month.
Beond’s first aircraft, registered as 8Q-FBA, is nearly 20 years old and has previously been operated by airlines such as easyJet and Sky Airline. The carrier plans to add additional Airbus aircraft to its fleet in late 2023 and early 2024.
Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, msn.com, aviationweek.com, Beond
