Stranded expats turn to business jets as flight suspension is extended between India and the United Arab Emirates.
The demand for private or business jets has increased since air traffic between India and the United Arab Emirates was discontinued. According to private jet operators and travel agents, some wealthy business travelers and their families have been returning to the UAE since April 25.
It is not immediately clear whether residents who are regularly stranded can pool resources and book a business jet. This form of travel had gained massive popularity among stranded Indian travelers in the past year after India suspended all planned international flight operations.
Entry of passengers from India into the UAE, one of the busiest air corridors in the world, was suspended on April 25 when Covid-19 cases hit record highs in India.
The only exceptions were UAE citizens, diplomats, official delegations, golden residency visa holders and flights by business people.
All exceptions must be approved by the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA).
Khaled Jarrar, Account Manager and Private Jet and Helicopter Charter at Air Charter Services (ACS) said, “There is demand, but permits are subject to case-by-case. Business jets are allowed to operate, and we’ve done 2-3 flights since the suspension. The clientele consists mainly of wealthy private individuals who can afford to book a private jet. “
However, ACS has not accepted requests from non-business travelers or stranded residents who want to pool resources to make it on flights to the UAE.
“In any case, the trip must be approved by the GCAA. It takes between three and five working days for the permits to be received. We provide passenger details that include passports and other details, ”Jarrar said.
In an earlier statement to the Khaleej Times, a GCAA official had made it clear that business travelers could not use the exemption to charter large numbers of passengers from India to the UAE.
Exempt travelers must also take a PCR test at the airport and on the fourth and eighth day after entering the Emirates and quarantine themselves upon arrival.
Given the massive demand, travel agencies are now preparing the documents to apply for such operations to the GCAA.
Raheesh Babu, the general manager of Musafir.com, an internet-based travel agency, said demand from stranded residents in India is very high right now. “The business jet pooling system works when a group of travelers pays for each seat on the jet. We arrange a private jet based on the number of passengers,” he said.
For example, according to Babu, there is great demand from stranded expatriates in Kochi and Lucknow.
“However, there is a lack of clarity as to whether tourist visa holders can travel. Many residents want to bring their elderly parents to the UAE given the difficult situation in India. There is also a demand from companies looking to bring their stranded employees back to the UAE. They are weighing their options, ”said Babu. He said it all depends on GCAA approvals.
In this case the costs are between 12,000 and 15,000 Dh per passenger. “This is the first pooling request that we are submitting to the GCAA this year. We aim to return the passengers on May 8th, ”explained Babu.
However, according to some operators, it is still too early for demand to boom like it did from April to May 2020.
“Only a few days have passed since the suspension. Assume it is extended beyond May 15. In this case, more passengers will probably be desperate and the demand for this form of travel will increase significantly, ”said another charter airline based in Dubai.
dhanusha@khaleejtimes.com
