A new era of boutique air travel may soon be arriving in the United States as Maldives-based luxury airline BeOnd teams up with Alaska’s New Pacific Airlines to launch BeOnd America.
The collaboration aims to introduce a fully all-business-class flight experience across the U.S., Caribbean, and Latin America, marking one of the most ambitious expansions in the premium leisure segment.
While no launch date or specific routes have been announced yet, both partners confirm the project is moving forward pending approval from U.S. regulators. For travelers frustrated with crowded cabins and diminishing comfort, the concept offers a refreshing shift toward space, service, and exclusivity.
A New Partnership Built Around Premium Leisure Travel
BeOnd, which markets itself as the world’s first “premium leisure airline,” currently operates two narrow-body Airbus aircraft with lie-flat seats and a boutique onboard experience. Its routes from hubs such as Dubai, Milan, Munich, and Zürich connect travelers to Malé in the Maldives, a destination where high-end tourism continues to boom.
The airline’s philosophy centers on creating a calm, design-forward atmosphere with upscale dining and a fully flat cabin layout – something rarely seen on narrow-body aircraft.
To bring that same model to the United States, BeOnd is partnering with New Pacific Airlines, an Anchorage-based carrier that operates charter flights across North America using Boeing 757-200s. New Pacific holds both FAA certification and a U.S. commercial operating certificate, making it the ideal entry point for BeOnd’s expansion.
Under the BeOnd America brand, New Pacific will operate eight aircraft styled and marketed entirely under the BeOnd experience, while both airlines collaborate on schedules and service standards.
Although aircraft type has not been finalized, BeOnd has indicated its intention to use Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft outfitted with 56–68 lie-flat seats. This would place the new airline among a small group of all-business-class operators worldwide – a category that includes niche carriers such as La Compagnie.
A Vision for a New Luxury Network
The BeOnd America initiative signals a major shift for both airlines. For BeOnd, it represents a key pillar of an aggressive global growth plan that aims to expand from two aircraft today to as many as 56 by 2030. The airline is actively raising capital and pursuing new operational bases in the Middle East, India, and the U.S., positioning itself as a global premium brand.
For New Pacific Airlines, the partnership offers a new path after its earlier transpacific ambitions failed to materialize. Originally founded as Northern Pacific Airways, the airline once planned to connect major U.S. cities to Asia via Anchorage – a vision that never reached scheduled service. With BeOnd, New Pacific now shifts toward a luxury-focused model that capitalizes on its charter expertise and regulatory standing.
If approved by U.S. authorities, BeOnd America hopes to serve high-end leisure routes such as U.S. transcontinental corridors, Caribbean destinations, and select Latin American markets. Pricing details have yet to be announced, but BeOnd’s current fares – such as $2,194 round-trip between Milan and Malé – suggest a premium positioning below private jet travel yet above traditional business class.
Whether this boutique airline model will resonate with American travelers remains to be seen. But in an era where cabin comfort is shrinking and frustration is rising, BeOnd America’s promise of calm, comfort, and lie-flat luxury could fill a growing niche in the market.
