BeOnd CEO Discusses New Saudi Subsidiary and Fleet Expansion Plans

Premium airline BeOnd is actively expanding its operations. On December 10, 2025, the luxury carrier announced plans to establish a new subsidiary in Saudi Arabia, having officially applied for an Air Operator Certificate (AOC) from the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) in Saudi Arabia.

This initiative follows GACA’s decision to award BeOnd a national charter carrier tender, enabling the airline to offer tailored domestic and international charter services across the Kingdom.

BeOnd currently operates flights at two airports in Saudi Arabia, connecting Riyadh (RUH) to Male, Maldives (MLE), and the Red Sea International Airport (RSI) to Milan-Malpensa (MXP). With the anticipated Saudi AOC, it is likely that BeOnd will introduce new routes to cater to the increasing tourist traffic in the region.

Shortly before this announcement, AeroTime had a conversation with BeOnd’s co-founder and CEO, Tero Taskila, who provided detailed insights into the airline’s business performance and growth initiatives.

Taskila confirmed that BeOnd aims to quadruple its fleet within the next year. Currently, the airline operates two aircraft: an Airbus A319 and an A321. They are expecting the arrival of six more aircraft throughout 2026.

Additionally, negotiations are already underway with lessors for an additional 16 aircraft, which represents half of what BeOnd plans to add to its fleet by 2028. The airline’s goal is to have a total of 56 aircraft by 2030.

This plan received a major boost in November 2025 when BeOnd successfully completed a $100 million Series C funding round, backed by a mix of unnamed private and institutional investors.

Saudi Arabia is currently making significant investments to attract more premium visitors, providing a valuable opportunity for BeOnd to broaden its market reach beyond the Maldives. Taskila also indicated that India could potentially be the next country where BeOnd applies for an AOC.

BeOnd is pursuing a multi-AOC strategy, envisioning two to three aircraft for each AOC. While each airline will have its distinct registration, BeOnd plans to consolidate most operations under a unified team, which will help mitigate market risks and seasonal fluctuations.

Expanding in new markets

To facilitate this expansion, BeOnd partnered with New Pacific Airlines, a U.S. charter carrier that ceased operations at the end of November 2025.

The intention was to allocate at least two A321 aircraft to its U.S. counterpart, which would operate under the BeOnd America brand, delivering the same standard of service experienced on BeOnd’s other flights.

Despite the collapse of New Pacific Airlines, BeOnd remains focused on its ambition for the U.S. market. During a press conference on December 10, 2025, Taskila revealed that they are actively seeking another U.S. partner to launch BeOnd America with a similar franchise model.

Should BeOnd successfully establish itself in the U.S., it will enter a competitive landscape that includes emerging premium operators like Magnifica Air. Taskila sees the increasing interest in the premium airline sector as a positive indicator for BeOnd’s operational strategy.

Although BeOnd has yet to reach profitability, it anticipates achieving this milestone by the end of 2026. The airline reports a load factor exceeding 70% on its European routes, with about 30% of passengers enjoying Fifth Freedom rights, which permit them to travel between Munich (MUC) and Zurich (ZRH) and Dubai Al-Maktoum (DWC).

Taskila expressed optimism regarding BeOnd’s future, noting impressive booking numbers even during traditionally less busy months. First quarter bookings for 2026 have already surpassed those from the previous year.

To manage seasonal variability, BeOnd is focusing on charter operations, receiving around 3,000 charter requests annually.

Instead of ad hoc services, BeOnd prefers establishing long-term contracts for corporate charters, particularly for events, ensuring better capacity management. The airline has already booked a contract with a tour operator to conduct eight luxury air cruises around the world.

As it prepares for its next phase of growth, BeOnd is eyeing new destinations. Taskila mentioned potential new gateways in Europe, such as London, Paris, Dusseldorf (DUS), Geneva (GVA), and Rome Fiumicino (FCO). In Asia, possible new routes could include Hanoi (HAN), Bangkok (BKK), Mumbai (BOM), Delhi (DEL), and Seoul (ICN).