A rare piece of good news is emerging about the airline: A new all-business-class carrier is aiming to launch in the United States next year. Anchorage-based New Pacific Airlines has partnered with Dubai-headquartered boutique airline Beyond to create a premium service called Beyond America — an ambitious effort to bring a luxury, all-business-class model to American skies.
Tom Hsieh, CEO of New Pacific Airlines, describes the project as “Boutique, luxury airline experience… not seen before in American skies.” Under the proposal, New Pacific would operate flights marketed under the Beyond brand, expanding Beyond’s upscale leisure model – which currently connects European cities to the Maldives to North America.
Both airlines come to the partnership with unusual backstories. New Pacific began life as Northern Pacific Airways about four years ago, unveiling a sleek Boeing 757 and plans to emulate Icelandair’s transcontinental hub strategy. The airline intended to connect US cities to Asia via Anchorage, but leadership changes and operational constraints prevented this. Today, the carrier holds FAA certification and operates elite charter operations for sports teams and government clients.
Meanwhile, Beyond launches in 2023 with a single Airbus A319 offering all-business-class service to Male in the Maldives. The airline has since added a second aircraft and offers a high-touch onboard experience featuring lie-flat seating, multi-course meals and premium wine service. Its long-term vision includes expanding routes to European hubs such as Milan, Munich and Zurich, as well as to Dubai and Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea International Airport.
Beyond fleet and plans
Currently, Beyond (Beyond-SIMDI Operations Pvt. Ltd.), based in Malé, Maldives, operates one A319-111 (reg. 8Q-FBA) and one A321-231 (reg. 8Q-FBB). According to Beyond CEO Tero Taskila, Americas is poised to become a “key pillar” of the airline’s network. Under the proposal, New Pacific will operate eight Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft in all business-class configurations of 56 or 68 seats. Service standards, scheduling and network development will be managed collaboratively by both airlines.
Specific routes have not yet been announced, but the carriers say they plan to connect U.S. cities to Caribbean and Latin American destinations, as well as operate select domestic intercontinental flights focused on seasonal luxury travel. Pricing details are also pending, although Beyond’s current fares – such as round-trip Milan-Male flights from €1,895 (about US$2,194) – provide a potential benchmark.
Regulatory approval from the U.S. Department of Transportation and the FAA will be required before any flights can begin. Industry observers caution that the venture is still speculative. Travel blogger Ben Schlapig described Beyond’s global ambitions as “fantastic” and “bizarre”, raising the question of whether this latest expansion will be realized.
Still, Beyond America is entering a growing niche. Florida-based Magnifica Air recently announced plans for semi-private, all-premium flights starting in 2027. France’s La Compagnie already operates all-business-class transatlantic routes, while hybrid semi-private carriers like JSX and Aero continue to attract travelers seeking an upgrade from traditional commercial flying.
For travelers fed up with cramped cabins, endless delays and declining levels of service, the prospect of a new all-business-class airline in the US is certainly welcome — if it can get off the ground.
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Related News: https://airguide.info/category/magazineonline/airlines/airline-in-flight-services/, https://airguide.info/category/air-travel-business/airline-finance/, Jetliner Aircraft Design
Sources: Airguide Business airguide.info, bing.com, flybond.com
