New Route of the Day (12 November 2025): beOnd between Red Sea and Milan MXP
Maldivian boutique carrier beOnd introduced flights between the Red Sea in Saudi Arabia and Milan MXP on Wednesday 12 November. The route will be maintained 2-weekly, on Wednesdays and Saturdays, with the 68-seat A321 aircraft. The service both originates and terminates in Male in the Maldives.
Flight B480 departs the Red Sea at 18:00 local time, arriving in Milan MXP at 21:20 local time. The return service, operating as flight B481, takes off at 22:20 local time, touching back down in Saudi Arabia at 05:00 local time the following morning.
The Red Sea in Saudi Arabia, located in the country’s northwest, is home to several tourism megaprojects, including the Red Sea Destination and Amaala.
What they said
Tero Taskila, CEO and Chairman of beOnd, said: “We’re proud to be the first airline connecting Milan directly to the Red Sea and Amaala, destinations that perfectly align with beOnd’s vision for premium leisure travel. This route offers an elevated journey to an extraordinary destination. We’re grateful to the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) in Saudi Arabia and Ente Nazionale per l’Aviazione Civile in Italy for their support in making this route possible. We also want to thank the Saudi Tourism Authority (STA), Saudi Air Connectivity Program (ACP), RSI and SEA Milan Airports for their continued support and for paving the way to help us add RSI to our growing network.”
Andrew Tyler-Smith, CEO of Red Sea Airport, added: “We are thrilled to welcome beOnd as the first airline offering direct service from Europe to the Red Sea and Amaala. As we expand RSI’s growing network, we are honoured to have strategic airline partners such as beOnd to be a part of our journey in welcoming travellers from across the globe to discover the Saudi Red Sea coast.”
beOnd to launch US operations
beOnd, having just celebrated its second birthday, has secured $100 million in investment and announced a strategic tie-up with New Pacific Airlines in the US. The agreement will see the luxury carrier launch a new sister carrier, beOnd America. It will also allow for the expansion of the carrier’s fleet from its current two aircraft (one A319 and one A321) to 56 jets over the coming years.
Apart from Milan MXP and the Red Sea, beOnd’s existing network includes flights from Male to Munich and Zurich via Dubai DWC, as well as services from the Maldives to Riyadh.
beOnd is a joint venture formed by the Emirati investment firm, Arabesque, and the Maldivian hospitality company, SIMDI Group. It is marketed as the world’s first all-premium leisure carrier, differentiating itself from all-premium cabin airlines catering to business travellers.
