Paris, March 4, (dpa/GNA) – People who can afford it are attempting to leave the Gulf region on chartered private jets, with operators reporting a surge in demand from travellers seeking to depart quickly.
UK-based charter flight provider, Global Charter, told dpa it has received a high number of requests from people wanting to leave Dubai as soon as possible.
Another company, Jet-VIP of France, also reported increased demand for short-notice flights since the war in the Middle East broke out. Chief executive Altay Kula said Jet-VIP was being contacted not only by regular customers, but also by business travellers and families.
Prices for such flights are significantly higher than usual, Global Charter said, citing factors including insurance requirements.
Kula said costs had also risen because flight routes had become longer to avoid certain airspace. Demand is high, he said, but the number of available jets — and crews willing to fly in the region — is limited.
The companies did not disclose specific prices.
As with evacuation flights organized by governments, most private jet departures are not taking off directly from Dubai. Global Charter said most of its flights had departed from Muscat, in Oman, while Jet-VIP also operated flights from Oman and Saudi Arabia.
Destinations for customers include London, Paris, Bangkok, Istanbul and the Maldives, Jet-VIP said.
Tens of thousands of travellers have been stranded across the Gulf since the weekend. Many had been on holiday in the region or using Gulf airports, like Dubai and Doha, which serve as major international transit hubs.
Several Gulf states have closed their airspace, while cruise ships remain stuck in ports.
Israel and the United States launched airstrikes on Iran on Saturday, killing the country’s supreme leader ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other senior figures in the Iranian leadership.
The Iranian military has responded with counter-attacks against Israel and targets across the Gulf region.
GNA