For many people, flying is a boring experience. It's simply sitting in uncomfortable seats with very little legroom, poor food, and no entertainment. Most would agree. But there are a few airlines that have gone above and beyond and made passengers' lives at least a little more comfortable. Below, we present 10 such unusual airlines that will be a dream come true for flight enthusiasts.
1. Samoa Air was a small airline that charged based on a passenger's total weight. This meant that overweight passengers had to pay more than thinner ones.
Samoa Air operated charter and medical transfer flights to and from Samoa. It also operated scheduled flights from the inner islands to American Samoa. A unique feature of this airline was its system of charging passengers based on their weight. It was the first airline in the world to do so. The airline apparently ceased operations in 2015.
The fare was calculated by multiplying the base fare for a given route by the passenger's weight. A baggage fee was then added. For example, a passenger weighing 70 kg with 20 kg of baggage booking a flight from Apia to Asau would pay a total of $119 ((70 + 20) kg x $1.32 base fare (approximately)). Children were charged a similar fee of 75%. (source)
2. In 1974, there was a non-profit airline offering organic food and waterbeds. Unfortunately, the airline went bankrupt less than a year later.
Known as "Freelandia," this airline began with good intentions. Kenneth Moss founded it in 1973, and it lasted a year. Because it was a non-profit, it offered low prices. Members had a travel club that offered low-cost tickets. They could book a flight from Newark to Los Angeles for just $87 with an annual membership of $25.
The airline operated two flights—one on a former United Airlines DC-8-21 and one on a Convair 880. Another intriguing feature was the availability of organic food and waterbeds on board. Passengers were served organic bread, vegetarian dishes, cheeses, homemade soups, as well as wine and beer. One passenger once remarked, «It’s an incredible party. I always arrive knowing everyone on board, and the last time I flew east, several people started playing guitars and bongos, and everyone was dancing all over the plane. It’s hard to believe someone finally did something like that. I once waited a week to get on a Freelandia flight in Los Angeles because, once you’ve flown like that, it’s really hard to put up with the crappy service on other airlines.».
The airline was forced to cease operations in early 1974 as a result of the 1973 oil crisis. (1, 2)
3. North Korea has its own airline, Air Koryo, which, according to Skytrax In 2014, it was the only airline with a one-star rating. The airline held this rating for four years in a row.
Skytrax offers ratings and reviews of airlines and airports from around the world. Since 2012, North Korean airline Air Koryo has received the lowest rating—just 1 star—for four years in a row. In 2015, it ranked last on a list of 600 carriers. Skytrax based on various criteria such as aircraft age, operational efficiency, in-flight catering and service quality.
Despite North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's long-standing efforts to improve the airline's image, the results remain unchanged. The airline hasn't acquired any new aircraft for 20 years, despite the poor condition of its existing fleet. In 2006, the airline's fleet was banned from entering EU airspace due to maintenance and safety issues.
The airline's dire situation is surprising, as most leading airlines are based in the Far East. (1, 2)
4. Hawaiian Airlines allows passengers to carry a 10-pound box of pineapple or papaya free of charge on any flight departing from Hawaii.
The first thing that comes to mind when thinking of Hawaii is dancing people in fruit hats! So it's only logical that people want to bring some fruit home with them. Hawaiian Airlines allows its passengers to do just that. According to its FAQ, the airline allows passengers to bring pre-packaged boxes of fruit. There are just three conditions. First, the fruit must be pineapple or processed papaya. Second, the box must weigh no more than 10 pounds. And third, the box must pass a pre-flight agricultural inspection. (source)
5. There's Baltia Airlines, which has never carried a single passenger in its 30 years of existence. Apparently, the airline has been awaiting approval from the US Federal Aviation Administration since 1989.
Baltia Air Lines, now known as USGlobal Airways, was founded in August 1989. It is a publicly traded company that began operations with the goal of transporting passengers from New York to the then Soviet Union. The airline received approval to fly from New York to Leningrad and Riga. Igor Dmitrovsky, the company's founder, spent a significant amount of time making certain decisions, which further delayed the certification process. In 1996, the company received approval to fly to several destinations, but at the time, it lacked the necessary capital to operate.
In 2007, the airline received capital and reapplied for flights from New York to St. Petersburg. They even received approval, after which they purchased a former Pakistan International Airlines Boeing 747-200. However, the aircraft had no engines. They then acquired several more aircraft and ultimately suffered a loss of $1.6 million.
In February 2017, the airline announced its intention to rebrand. Its name was changed to "USGlobal Airways." They even announced plans to streamline the certification process. Despite nearly 29 years of operation, the airline had failed all certification tests seven times. Aviation website creator One Mile at a Time , Benjamin Schlappig commented on the situation, calling the airline a scam and saying they were "just pretending they were going to start flying soon.".
On January 24, 2018, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) revoked the airline's passenger license. Consequently, the airline has not operated a single flight for nearly 30 years. (source)
6. Janet Airlines is a highly classified airline based at McCarran Airport in Las Vegas. Its fleet transports contractors and government employees to and from the Nevada National Security Facility, also known as Area 51.
Janet Airlines is owned and operated by the U.S. Department of the Air Force. This is the unofficial name for this highly classified airline. It is classified because it serves only military personnel and U.S. government contractors. Scheduled flights pick up employees from their home airports and transport them to their respective air bases for work. After completing their flights, the employees are then transported back home.
The name "Janet" is said to be an acronym for "Just Another Non-Existent Terminal." Sounds perfect, actually. Some also claim "Janet" stands for "Joint Air Network for Employee Transportation." Due to its secrecy, information about the airline's actual operations is very limited. The airline's fleet primarily serves the classified Area 51 and the Tonopah Test Site at the Nevada National Security Center. (source)
7. Nepal Airlines has the worst safety record in the world and is known to sacrifice goats to Hindu gods to fix technical problems.
In 2015, the platform Skytrax , an aviation consulting firm, awarded Nepal Airlines 2 stars. The ratings clearly cited poor service and in-flight experience. However, Skytrax Based more on service quality than safety, it's possible that Nepal Airlines compensated for poor service quality at the expense of safety, but even this hasn't been confirmed. Nepal Airlines also has the worst safety record.
After the airline's founding in 1958, its first fatal crash occurred in 1960, just two years after its inception. Subsequent accidents occurred in 1962, 1969, 1970, 1973 (twice), 1984, 1991, 1992, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2010, 2013, and 2014. These accidents resulted in fatalities and serious injuries to both passengers and crew. Since 2013, the airline has been banned by the European Union. (source)
8. French airline La Compagnie offers every passenger massage chairs, food from Michelin-starred restaurants, and Samsung entertainment tablets. Interestingly, their prices are still lower than those of their business class competitors.
La Compagnie describes its aircraft as "innovative." They currently operate only one aircraft, but plan to introduce two new ones starting in April 2019. Their current aircraft offer 100% business class service.
The onboard service is commendable. Seats recline to a 175-degree angle, and there's even a built-in massage feature. The seats are equipped with reading lights, document pockets, electronic power outlets, and headphone jacks. Hypoallergenic pillows, blankets, and personal care amenity kits are also provided complimentary. Overall, the lounge is designed to make passengers feel like they're in their own workspace.
For onboard entertainment, each passenger receives a tablet. They can watch movies, TV series, news, and even read their favorite books and magazines. As for meals, the airline offers a four-course menu. It begins with an appetizer, followed by a choice of hot entree. A cheese plate and dessert are then served. Before boarding, each passenger receives a snack set containing three savory and three sweet appetizers. Furthermore, the menu was created by renowned chef Christophe Langrée. (1, 2)
9. El Al is considered one of the safest airlines. It is known for equipping its aircraft with missile defense systems. Furthermore, every international flight has a secret air marshal present.
«El Al is an Israeli airline serving over 50 destinations, both domestic and international. Its aircraft are equipped with anti-ballistic missile systems. El Al is the only commercial airline in the world to use such systems. The airline takes these security measures to protect its fleet from anti-aircraft missiles. These security measures extend not only to flights but also to ground operations.
El Al flights depart from Israel's Ben Gurion Airport. Armed personnel are constantly on duty at El Al terminals. Baggage and passengers are screened by trained security specialists. Furthermore, each passenger must undergo a personal interview before boarding. This is done to identify any potential threats.
Aircraft flying on high-priority routes are equipped with a missile approach warning system (MAWS). This system consists of an infrared missile tracking camera and warning sensors. A laser system is also included, which can be used as a countermeasure. Undercover agents carrying concealed weapons are seated among the passengers on every international flight. The cockpits are equipped with double doors to prevent unauthorized entry. A special code is required to open the first door. The second door opens only after the first door is closed and the pilot has identified the person attempting to enter. This is top-notch security!
El Al flights have been repeatedly targeted by hijackers. However, only one flight has ever been hijacked, and even then, there were no casualties. (source)
10. Some Vietjet Airlines flights feature attractive women in bikinis as cabin crew. Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao, the company's founder, became Vietnam's first self-made female billionaire thanks to this idea.
Vietjet Airlines has taken its marketing game to a new level. Since its launch in 2011, some special flights have featured bikini-clad flight attendants on their crews. While many were not pleased with the stunt, it has provided the company with extensive press coverage for free. The numbers prove how quickly the airline has grown thanks to this idea. In 2015, the airline carried 9.3 million passengers, an increase of 661,000 passengers over the previous year. Moreover, its revenue increased by more than 2,001,000 passengers to $488 million.
In February 2017, the company went public and was fully listed on the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange. This marketing push made founder and CEO Thi Phuong Thao Nguyen the first self-made female billionaire in Vietnam. Her current net worth is estimated at $2.4 billion. (1, 2)