Some travelers stranded in Dubai are paying huge sums for private flights out
tens of thousands Airline passengers stranded Due to the Iran war spreading to the Gulf region, some wealthy travelers are leaving the region by paying huge amounts for luxury flights to Europe through safe airports. Iran’s drone and missile attacks.
Demand for charter flights has skyrocketed, with some people paying up to 200,000 euros ($232,000) for major airports. Dubai, Abu Dhabi And Doha, Qatar, It was closed after clashes broke out last weekend.
Passengers arriving from Dubai, generally known as a safe and luxurious destination, aim to evacuate by traveling to Muscat, Oman, or its capital, Riyadh, about a four-hour drive by land. Saudi Arabia, More than 10 hours away. They then board one of the few commercial flights available or charter flights, whose costs have skyrocketed since the beginning of the war.
“The demand is huge and we cannot deliver enough aircraft to meet the demand,” said Altay Kula, CEO of France-based private jet broker JET-VIP.
Normally, the cost of a 16-passenger charter flight from Riyadh to Porto in Portugal on a private jet might be around 100,000 euros ($115,800) these days, but the cost has doubled, Kula said.
“This increase in cost reflects the scarcity of the aircraft, repositioning costs and the operator’s risk assessments. Therefore, this is not speculative pricing,” he added.
Vimana Private Jets CEO Ameerh Naran said prices may vary depending on the departure point, aircraft type and route restrictions. Prices for flights from the Gulf region to Europe range from 150,000 euros ($173,800) to 200,000 euros, he added.
To reach functional airports like Riyadh and Muscat, some travelers hire private security companies that coordinate transportation by a variety of vehicles, from ordinary passenger cars to tour buses.
Ian McCaul, operations and planning director of Alma Risk, a UK-based risk management and security firm, said that due to heavy traffic, waiting times at Oman border points can reach up to four hours, and costs range from thousands of dollars.
McCaul added that those who wanted to leave were mostly stranded travelers as opposed to residents.
He estimates his company has made transfer arrangements for more than 200 people in recent days and advised several more.
Vimana’s customers include business executives, families and entrepreneurs, as well as remote workers based in the region, Naran said.
Elie Hanna, CEO of Dubai-based Air Charter Service’s Middle East headquarters, said most flights out of the region depart from Oman. He said the reason prices are so high is because few charter planes are available, many of which are stuck at airports that are now closed.
The customers he sees include people who regularly fly private charters, as well as people who often fly commercial but try to pool resources with other travelers or families to share costs.
“Everyone is stressed,” Hanna said. “To be honest, everyone is trying to accommodate as much as they can. Muscat Airport is full of flights and everyone is stressed.”
Experts from the international SOS security and health services company expect the clashes to continue affecting transport and energy infrastructure for weeks.
