Guys, sometimes I wonder if I’m losing my mind, or if others are. All-business class carrier Beond Airlines has just announced that it’s partnering with all-economy class carrier Air Cairo to launch an all-business class airline flying to and from Egypt.
No disrespect to Egypt, but of all the business ideas in the world, is this really the one that makes the most sense? Maybe next we’ll see Beond partner with Ryanair to offer all-business class service between Leeds and Agadir?
Beond & Air Cairo bring all-premium travel to Egypt
Beond Airlines and Air Cairo have announced a partnership to bring Beond’s all-business class travel experience to Egypt. The two airlines signed a memorandum of understanding for the concept.
For the summer of 2027, Air Cairo will operate Beond-branded flights with all-business class configurations, connecting Egypt with Europe and the Gulf region. This is clearly targeted at inbound tourism to Egypt, so “travellers reach Egypt’s coast, its history and its cities rested and at ease.”
Routes and schedules will be announced in the coming months, with bookings expected to open in the first half of 2027. Just so we’re on the same page here, Air Cairo operates a fleet of planes exclusively in an all-economy configuration, so the airline hasn’t seen merit to offering even a small business class cabin. But now they’ve decided “hey, what we really need is a plane that exclusively has business class?”
Here’s what Beond CEO Tero Taskila had to say about this concept:
“Egypt has some of the most remarkable places on earth, and many travellers who want to reach them in comfort. Air Cairo knows this market better than anyone. Together we can start the holiday from home, not at the hotel. Our cabin gives us the luxurious surroundings. Our people give us the experience. Both have to match the places we fly to.”
Meanwhile here’s what Egypt’s Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Sherif Fathy, had to say about this:
“Encouraging this partnership is an integral part of the Ministry’s strategy to promote Egypt’s unparalleled tourism diversity and expand its range of distinctive tourism products and experiences. We highly value the role of Air Cairo as one of the key supporters of the tourism industry, whose efforts contribute to enhancing connectivity, supporting tourism growth, and strengthening Egypt’s position as a leading global tourism destination. Such partnerships reflect our commitment to fostering closer cooperation with our partners in the aviation sector to achieve sustainable growth and further enhance the competitiveness of the Egyptian tourism destination.”
What can we even make of Beond Airlines at this point?
Beond Airlines was initially formed as an airline intended to transport people to and from the Maldives. I’ve flown the airline, and the onboard experience was actually quite lovely (with two caveats — the lack of Wi-Fi, plus the limited range of the planes requiring a refueling stop, which limits the ability to get rest).
This airline obviously has funding, and the company’s CEO is a really nice guy who has a fair bit of experience. But nothing about the past few years gives me any faith in the future of the company.
When Beond Airlines launched in 2023, management claimed the airline would have 32 planes and serve 60 destinations within five years, which would be by 2028. Currently, the airline still has two planes, with no additional firm orders, at least as far as I know.
It has just been announcement after announcement from Beond, with little substance to anything:
- In April 2025, the company announced huge growth plans, suggesting it would add 18 new destinations “through 2025 and into 2026,” and it named specific destinations; that just didn’t happen, and I think we’ve maybe gotten a couple of new destinations, in theory
- The airline has now repeatedly suspended operations altogether, and going back a few months, the company had to postpone payment to staff
- In November 2025, the company announced it planned a global expansion, including setting up a subsidiary in the United States; the company was going to partner with New Pacific Airlines, which ended up liquidating a couple of weeks later
- Now Beond Airlines is focusing on the Red Sea, and is having most of its routes serve both the Red Sea and Maldives
I have no clue what’s going on here anymore, though I’d assume it’s one of two things:
- I’m not sure if Beond is now chasing government subsidies and service guarantees, since I imagine Saudi Arabia is paying for the Red Sea service; maybe the same is true in Egypt?
- Everything feels like a rather desperate fundraising pitch, intended to raise money from investors, rather than a realistic announcement of what’s to come
But I have to say, of everything we’ve seen from Beond, I find this to possibly be the most bizarre development yet. Egypt is generally a budget vacation destination, and not a premium vacation destination. So if an all-business class experience to the Maldives didn’t prove successful, I can’t imagine that Egypt is the key to unlocking prosperity for the airline.
Bottom line
Beond Airlines and Air Cairo are partnering to launch an all-business class airline that will serve Egypt. Egypt is generally a budget travel destination, and there’s an irony to an all-economy airline getting involved in an all-business class operation.
What can anyone really say at this point, though? Beond is all over the place in terms of its strategy. Initially it was going to fly to dozens of destinations out of the Maldives. Then it promised to set up subsidiaries all over the place, including partnering with an airline that liquidated just weeks later. Then the airline suspended commercial operations altogether. And now the airline is planning all-business class service in Egypt.
What do you make of Beond’s latest Egypt play?
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