Escalating Middle East tensions spark a surge in private jet bookings from the UAE, with prices doubling as commercial airspace remains restricted.
DUBAI: A Dubai-based private jet firm launched just days ago has been inundated with requests from residents desperate to leave the United Arab Emirates. PetX Jets, which initially focused on pet travel, is now fielding enquiries from a broad spectrum of passengers seeking an exit route.
The surge follows escalating regional conflict, which has forced the closure of airspace and stranded tens of thousands. Founder Samuel Lait said his company’s original plan to operate pet-friendly charters between the UK and Dubai has changed dramatically since Saturday.
“The original idea was to transport pets and their owners between the UK and Dubai primarily. And that’s very much changed since Saturday,” Lait explained. His inbox is now full of requests from young adults, pregnant couples and the elderly.
The broader private jet market is experiencing a similar boom. France-based broker Jet-VIP, which operates in the Middle East, reports a massive spike in demand. “Since the escalation of tensions in the region, we have seen a significant increase in bookings,” said CEO Altay Kula.
He noted requests are coming “every 10 minutes” as people seek solutions to depart from Dubai and Qatar. With UAE airports operating at a fraction of capacity, alternatives like flying from Muscat or Riyadh have become crucial.
This frantic demand has caused charter prices to skyrocket. Jet-VIP’s typical fare for a light jet from Dubai to Istanbul has doubled from USD 50,000 to USD 100,000. Flights on larger aircraft have jumped from USD 110,000 to USD 200,000.
Lait confirmed the astronomical price hikes, particularly for flights originating from Oman where demand has surged. He is currently negotiating with aircraft providers to secure reasonable rates before commencing operations.
Operators also face significant logistical hurdles beyond cost. Kula highlighted a severe scarcity of available landing slots in alternative hubs like Muscat and Riyadh. Securing authorisation can now take up to 24 hours.
Airspace restrictions further complicate efforts to operate directly from Dubai. For now, PetX Jets is adopting a wait-and-see approach, hoping for a normalisation of both airspace access and pricing.
“Our aim is to really try and hold out until the Dubai airspace opens and those aircraft become more in line with the prices that we’ve seen in the weeks and months leading up to Saturday,” Lait said.
