Onboard Beond: The luxe new airline flying from Riyadh to Maldives
It’s touted as the world’s first premium leisure airline…
Prepare for take-off: There’s a luxe new airline offering direct flights from Riyadh to the Maldives. And as if getting you to one of the world’s most alluring destinations in five-and-a-half hours wasn’t enough, Beond airline is the world’s first premium leisure airline, meaning you’ll be jetting off in style.
Beond offers all business class seats, replicating the private jet experience through best-in-class amenities, a fine dining menu, and attentive service to make your holiday start from the moment that you board. Best of all, despite the luxurious business class offering, it’s competitively priced like a premium economy fare. Right now as part of the introductory offer, for those that book by November 30 and travel by December 23, return fares start from SAR3,860 (excluding airport taxes). Thereafter, flights will begin from SAR6,100.
Based out of Malé, Maldives, Beond is now offering flights to three destinations: Riyadh, Zurich and Munich. From summer 2024, the airline will also service Milan and Dubai with regular flights to Malé, for those looking to do it with a VIP touch. There’s ambitious expansion plans to offer some 60 routes within the next five years, offering a new way to travel for the premium leisure guest.
Currently, Beond’s single Airbus A319 aircraft operates flights between Malé and Riyadh on Thursdays and Saturdays, perfect for a long weekend or extended getaway.
The in-flight experience is all about giving guests a luxurious and exclusive experience, so there’s just 44 seats onboard, configured in a 2 x 2 layout. Optimares designed leather seats in smart, soothing cream are generously sized and spaciously arranged, and when you walk onboard they’re neatly laid out with Beond branded amenities in signature orange and slate grey. Comfy slippers make you feel right at home, there’s a pillow and blanket for getting some R&R in-flight on your lie-flat seat that doubles up as a bed, and a leather amenity kit is stocked with a toothbrush, sanitiser and even pillow mist, to make sure you’re feeling refreshed again as you prepare to touch down.
There’s a focus on high-spec tech too. Each passenger is given Beats headphones (noise cancelling, we may add), and can set up an iPad infront of them to stream a selection of blockbuster movies, comedic series’ or listen to a podcast. Prefer to watch on your phone? Simply link the headphones up to your phone and stream away.
The service is of the high-standard you’d expect in business class. Guests are offered refreshing towels and fresh juices on arrival. Throughout the flight staff pass by offering to put down a matress for those getting some sleep in, or offer water and juices.
An a la carte menu goes far beyond the traditional culinary offering on a flight, with guests able to order from a menu that includes dishes like wagyu beef and Maldivian lobster. It’s all served swiftly on delicate chinaware that makes you feel as much like you’re in a fine dining restaurant as you are onboard a flight.
And once you touch down in your final destination, it feels as though paradise began before the wheels even touched the runway in Malé.
Beond now offers flights from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to Malé, Maldives, with return fares from SAR3,860 available until December 23. flybeond.com