Rich travelers are spending £100,000 to escape the Middle East via private jets following the closure of major airports. Numerous flights in the region were canceled, leaving many passengers stranded due to disruptions in global air travel caused by the conflict between the US, Israel, and Iran. The closure of Dubai International Airport and Al Maktoum International Airport resulted from Iran’s retaliatory missile and drone attacks.
Despite Dubai Airports’ announcement of limited flight resumptions, some stranded tourists in the UAE have opted to pay exorbitant sums for private jets or endure lengthy drives to reach operational airports in Oman and Saudi Arabia. The surge in demand for private jets has been notable, with fewer operators willing to fly in the region, according to Altay Kula, a spokesperson for JetVIP, a private jet brokerage firm.
James Leach from Air Charter Service highlighted that local private flight aircraft are stranded at closed airports, necessitating the use of jets from distant locations and subsequently increasing costs. Muscat, Oman, and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, have become essential travel hubs amid the chaos, as per industry spokespeople.
Evacuation flights are predominantly bound for Istanbul, London, or Rome, with flights from Muscat to Istanbul costing over $93,000 (£70,000) for light jets and up to $140,000 (£105,000) for heavy jet charters. Private security firms are also arranging SUV transportation for clients to reach operational airports for their private flights.
Over 4,000 flights per day have been canceled since Saturday across the region, according to flight-tracking service Flightradar24. While Etihad Airways suspended most services until Wednesday, some departures, including flights to various destinations, proceeded on Monday. Etihad reassured that specific flights, including repositioning, cargo, and repatriation flights, would operate in compliance with UAE authorities and stringent operational and safety protocols.
