New All-Business-Class Airline Lost Its U.S. Partner And Lacks Funding — Still Promises October 2026 Launch

Last month, premium leisure airline beOnd which is based in Maldives announced they are starting a new U.S. all-business class airline: beOnd America. Two weeks later, their announced U.S. partner New Pacific Airlines went out of business.

Yet beOnd American says that they are still planning an October 2026 launch with a U.S. partner, operating two Airbus A320 aircraft. The initial plan is for U.S. domestic operations, with visibility towards Hawaii flying, and potentially international in the future contingent on regulatory approvals for the U.S. partner to fly international routes.

They are also expanding to Saudi Arabia, where they plan to base 20 planes by 2030, and total fleet growth to 56 aircraft by that time. This will include bases in the Maldives, U.S., India and multiple Gulf countries.

They’re currently raising $100 million, in addition to a reported $90 million already raised, in order to fund expansion. This suggests that the financing for beOnd America is not already in place.

The U.S. requires 75% domestic ownership and U.S. control over American carriers authorized to carry passengers between points in the United States. Their CEO is describing a franchise arrangement for beOnd America,

The local partner will have a local investor base and will operate as a franchise operator. They will operate their own airline as well as, effectively, what an M&A partner would have done, and then introduce the beOnd product under the same AOC, which we will utilize under the beOnd America brand.

All business class is tough. Premium markets are limited, and airlines often find they don’t fill an entire plane with premium demand. Once they’re flying to sell business class tickets, that extra space can be used to carry coach passengers. beOnd won’t have that luxury. Still, there could be opportunity in:

• Northeast – Caribbean: New York and to a lesser extent Boston to Turks and Caico, St. Lucia, Barbados, St. Maarten. This is heavily winter-seasonal.

• Northeast – Mexico: New York to Cabo, Puerto Vallarta, Cancun, Cozumel. This is heavily winter-seasonal.

• West Coast – Hawaii: out of LA and San Francisco but this requires ETOPS certification.

• One-off event flights: Las Vegas during CES, Austin for Formula 1, Miami during Art Basel and then flights for the Super Bown and Final Four.

• Seasonal U.S. domestic leisure peaks: New York and Los Angeles to Vail, Jackson Hole, Big Sky at peak times (this wouldn’t work with the 757, and likely not an A321).

I love premium products, and innovative ideas. So I’m rooting for beOnd and whomever they partner with. I am skeptical about a 2026 service launch. And their shot at succeeding as a scheduled airline seems pretty tough.

• Pure leisure all‑business class is hyper‑seasonal.
  
• Selling tickets without a strong loyal customer base or tie-in to an established frequent flyer program is hard.
  
• And they won’t have the same schedule frequency, at least at the start, that larger airlines can offer.
  
• Cost per seat mile on 44 – 68 seat narrowbodies is off the charts. They need to feel these seats at super premium prices.
  
• beOnd’s execution record on meeting growth promises doesn’t inspire confidence. And their first partner already went under.

There are days where this can work, but I’d also imagine we’ll see a lot of discount packaged inventory sold through resorts. I want to experience the product. I want them to succeed and I want more premium air service in the U.S. The race to the bottom has been excruciating. So I’ll be watching closely.