Sun, Oct 15, 2006
A German Entrepreneur Has Plan For 'New' Idea
How would like to enjoy
a nice fat Cuban cigar with your caviar the next time you fly
commercial? Sound like a joke? Well, if German businessman
Alexander Schoppmann has his way, the next time you fly from
Dusseldorf to Tokyo, that's just what you'll get... seriously.
Schoppmann, a 55-year old former German stockbroker, wants to
create a haven for the persecuted smoker. He has a business
plan for an airline called Smoker's International Airways, or
Smintair. The carrier will offer service between his hometown of
Dusseldorf, Germany and Tokyo, Japan.
Schoppmann told the Associated Press, "I've been an airline
passenger for 50 years. It made me very angry that the gap between
service and price became so big with regular airlines. Especially
in the first class and business class, service is at its lowest
point ever."
To Schoppmann, a pack-and-a-half-day smoker, airline service
should focus on helping people deal with the long idle hours during
transcontinental flights. He believes that should include, not
surprisingly, puffing on a Cohiba if one wishes.
Schoppmann plans to begin service in March with three leased
747s. Two will fly the route while the last provides for
backup.
Schoppmann's "new" idea
is to bring back the "old days" when flying was a luxury. His 747s
will seat only 138 passengers between the business and first class
sections.
Apparently, there is some interest in Schoppmann's idea -- he
says he has $81 million in start up funds from various
investors.
All smokers we hope...
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