Demand for private jets set to take-off in the regional leisure market

The number of private jet movements* in and out of Dubai International Airport increased by 57 per cent in 2005 (6,216), compared to 2004 (3,940) and movements in the first quarter of 2006 were 24 per cent ahead of the first quarter of 2005.

The number of private business jets available for charter in Dubai is approximately 10 and this number is set to rise. As the number of luxury hotel and residential developments in Dubai increases alongside the high level of business activity, private air travel is set for strong growth in the leisure sector.

"The benefits and convenience of private air travel are well understood in the corporate sector but there is also increasing interest amongst travel agents and tour operators, shown by the response at the ATM 2006, where we had serious enquiries from agents in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Jordan, as well as interest in the block leasing," says Caron Gledhill, Director of Sales & Marketing at Dubai-based Elite Jets, the region's newest luxury private jet operator.

Ms Gledhill adds:

"Dubai and the rest of the region are increasingly attracting the kind of wealthy, international VVIP resident and leisure traveler who expects to travel by private jet. This presents a great opportunity for companies such as Elite Jets and the travel industry needs to respond to this by developing the skills to market these specialised, luxury services. Elite Jets is looking for selected partners in the region to develop this market in offering luxury private air services to their corporate and leisure clients.'

"Tour operators and luxury hotel property owners from the Maldives, Greece and Cyprus, for example - all within four hours' flying time of Dubai - are targeting leisure travelers from the Gulf and we are having discussions on how to package luxury destinations with luxury private air travel and ground transportation for Middle East travelers - we believe it's a market with a lot of potential," she concludes.