Recently, he registered an airline that, after obtaining a flight license, will be the only one in Europe serving heavy smokers. Even its name leaves no doubt that in flight a passenger will not have to suffer while waiting to land to take a pack of cigarettes out of their pocket. According to the BBC, Schoppmann, who smokes one and a half packs of cigarettes a day, decided not to be original and named his creation Smoker's International Airways (Smintair) - "International Airlines for Smokers".
Schoppmann's company sees its goal, or, as it has now become fashionable to say, its mission, as returning to air passengers "the feeling of privilege associated with flying that could be experienced in the 60s". And of course, the German did not forget to mention that only on Smintair's Boeings will passengers' freedom of choice not be restricted. This airline does not plan any ban on non-smokers; moreover, in press releases they are promised an effective air conditioning and purification system unavailable on flights of companies that have chosen the anti-tobacco mainstream path. "This is more expensive and requires more fuel, but this is precisely what the additional services for our customers consist of," say the heads of the new company.
Alexander Schoppmann apparently does not doubt that Smintair will definitely have Boeing 747s. He claims that for more than a year he and a team of economists have been developing a business plan for the new airline, and several solutions have already been found that set it apart from other air carriers. And it's not just about allowing smoking in flight. The German promises that the number of passengers will be three times less than the rated capacity of the airliner, and thanks to this, on one of the decks it will be possible to arrange a lounge for relaxation.
The company intends to start flights in March 2007, after obtaining a license from the German Federal Aviation Office. Initially, the only route for the two "smoking" Boeings will be from Düsseldorf, where Alexander Schoppmann currently lives, to Tokyo. In fact, the German businessman is primarily counting on the generosity of wealthy nicotine-dependent Japanese who have strong business ties with European colleagues - after all, ticket prices on his flights will be much higher than those of competitors, and the aircraft will not have an economy class cabin, only first and business class. Over time, Schoppmann promises to expand the geography of flights. But since his proposals are unlikely to interest non-smoking America, the German plans to connect Düsseldorf with Sydney, Australia, and Wellington, New Zealand.
So far, however, the company fighting for the revival of tobacco traditions in aviation, counting on an annual turnover of €100 million, has neither licenses nor aircraft, nor a full staff. Judging by the list of vacancies on the Smintair website, Alexander Schoppmann needs managers, pilots, and flight attendants. The German businessman promises to recruit management as soon as he finds investors and the €40 million needed to submit an application to the Federal Aviation Office. The flight crew will be recruited closer to the start of flights. True, the directorate of "International Airlines for Smokers" asks in advance that applicants allergic to tobacco smoke and active anti-smoking fighters not worry.