The airline that offers only business class makes its first flight three years later

Three years after its initial announcement, airline BeOnd is moving ahead with its European expansion by connecting London Heathrow and Paris Charles de Gaulle with the Maldives starting in December 2026. The company, which markets itself as “the world’s first premium leisure airline,” has eliminated economy class in favor of all-premium cabins.

These new overnight routes will join the airline’s existing service from Munich, Zurich, and Milan, where it will also increase weekly frequencies in an effort to attract more travelers interested in this kind of upscale vacation.

The airline’s main draw is its pricing. A ticket from London this Christmas season cost about $4,650, far below the roughly $14,050 charged by traditional carriers such as British Airways for business class.

In return, passengers get perks such as private chauffeur pickup, Ferrari-designed seat covers, Beats headphones, and Apple virtual reality headsets. But beneath the luxury branding, that fare comes with a few notable trade-offs.

Used aircraft, narrow beds, and refueling stops

The airline operates aircraft that are more than 20 years old, purchased from carriers such as easyJet and British Airways. The strategy behind these unusually low fares is simple: the company has completely reconfigured its Airbus A319 and A321 jets, removing all economy seating and leaving only 44 to 68 premium seats. That keeps capacity intentionally low and helps create a more exclusive onboard experience.

Still, beyond the leather finishes and luxury-brand touches, the actual seat space has its downsides. Aviation experts who have tested the cabin warn that the beds do not lie fully flat, and that anyone taller than about 5 feet 11 inches may have trouble stretching out comfortably. The seat structure reportedly leaves limited foot space, forcing taller passengers to curl up awkwardly.

The biggest issue, however, is that these aircraft are not capable of flying such a long route nonstop. They cannot cover the distance between Europe and the Maldives in a single leg, which means they must stop to refuel in Dubai. That technical stop adds about three hours to the journey compared with a direct flight and, more importantly, requires all passengers to remain onboard while the aircraft is refueled.

A history of failure

The industry’s track record does not inspire much confidence in this model, which currently has only one real counterpart: the French airline La Compagnie, which operates on North American routes.

Nearly 20 years ago, several airlines attempted essentially the same idea by using older refurbished aircraft with luxury seating at lower prices on routes between London and New York. All of them eventually collapsed around 2008, largely because they did not offer enough flight frequencies or meaningful loyalty programs for customers.

On top of that, this type of premium traveler is not especially tolerant of technical stops. Being required to remain seated during a late-night refueling stop in Dubai significantly reduces the appeal of the product.

With fares this close to those of better-established airlines, many travelers may prefer a conventional one-stop itinerary with carriers such as Emirates, where they can at least get off the plane and stretch their legs.

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