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    Suffering from foreign travel withdrawal symptoms? You can now catch a flight that never takes off

    Synopsis

    ​​If restrictions on flights continue, other airports could launch similar programmes.

    Once airports get back to business, however, foreign air travel theme parks to orient future outbound tourists can also be considered.iStock
    Once airports get back to business, however, foreign air travel theme parks to orient future outbound tourists can also be considered.
    The idea of boarding an aircraft but never leaving certainly has Hotel California overtones, but since the Covid-19 lockdown has curtailed much of air travel worldwide, taking a fake flight is about as far as intrepid travellers can wing it these days. So, the flier saying, “Can’t leave (Taiwan), then pretend to go abroad at Songshan,” makes sense, in a strange sort of way. Songshan, one of Taipei’s two international airports, has offered those missing their flying fix a chance to go through all the motions of catching a flight, albeit without actually taking off.

    The latter stipulation, of course, takes care of the knottiest part of international flying these days —the unavailability of destinations.

    That 7,000 people miss the experience of clearing customs and immigration (both while ‘exiting’ and returning!) and cueing up to board and disembark enough to respond to the flier is a revelation. No doubt airline companies will note this startling proclivity.

    If restrictions on international flights continue much longer, other airports could launch similar programmes to address foreign travel withdrawal symptoms, and add a meal inside the aircraft and usual pre-flight announcements for extra effect. Once airports get back to business, however, foreign air travel theme parks to orient future outbound tourists can also be considered.


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