An airport in Taiwan is offering a ‘fake flight experience’ for people who have missed travelling on planes during the coronavirus pandemic.
Songshan Airport is allowing people the chance to sample the airport experience by boarding a plane that goes nowhere.
Sixty winners were chosen at random for the first fake flight and were given itineraries, boarding passes and passed through security and immigration before boarding the plane.
There were no in-flight meals but customers were given the chance to dine at a restaurant in the airport. They were also given the freedom to explore parts of the terminal and the duty-free store.
In early June, the airport’s social media team asked those who would like to participate in a lottery to win a tour spot to share an airport Facebook post. Some 7,000 users reportedly entered.
Taiwan carrier China Airlines operated the first “flight” on July 2, which took place onboard an A330. Flight attendants were on board to speak with the passengers.
Hsiao Chun-wei travelled on the phoney flight with her son and revealed that she was keen to go abroad.
She said: “I really want to leave the country, but because of the epidemic lots of flights can’t fly.”
Taiwan locked down its borders in March amid the growing coronavirus pandemic.
Foreign nationals are still banned from visiting the island but Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on June 24 that it would gradually adjust entry regulations in response to worldwide efforts to resume economic activity.
