Tens of thousands of airline passengers have been stranded by Iran’s war, which has spread across the Gulf region, but some wealthy travelers are getting out by paying big bucks for luxury flights to Europe via airports safe from Iranian drone and missile attacks.
Demand for charter flights has soared, with some people paying as much as 200,000 euros ($232,000) as major airports in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Qatar’s Doha were closed after the conflict began last weekend.
Travelers from Dubai, often considered a safe and luxurious destination, are trying to relocate by traveling overland to Muscat, Oman, about a four-hour drive, or to Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, more than 10 hours away. Then they board one of the few commercial planes available or take a charter flight, the costs of which have skyrocketed since the start of the war.
“Demand is huge, and we can’t deliver enough planes to respond to demand,” said Altai Kula, CEO of France-based private jet broker Jet-VIP.
A charter flight from Riyadh to Porto on a private jet that usually seats 16 passengers can cost about 100,000 euros ($115,800) these days, Kula said.
“This increase in cost reflects aircraft shortages, replacement costs and operator risk assessments. So this is not speculative pricing,” he said.
Aamir Naran, CEO of Vimana Private Jets, said prices may vary depending on the departure point, type of flight and route restrictions. For flights from the Gulf region to Europe, prices range from 150,000 euros ($173,800) to 200,000 euros, he said.
To reach functional airports such as those in Riyadh and Muscat, some travelers hire private security companies that organize transportation in vehicles ranging from regular passenger cars to coach buses.
Due to heavy traffic, waiting times at Oman’s border points can be as long as four hours, while costs can range into thousands of dollars, said Ian McCall, director of operations and planning at Alma Risk, a UK-based risk management and security firm.
Those looking to leave are predominantly stranded travelers, as opposed to residents, McCall added.
He estimates that his company has made transfer arrangements for more than 200 people and has advised several others in recent times.
The airline’s customers include business executives, families and entrepreneurs, as well as remote workers based in the region, Naran said.
Experts from the International SOS security and health services company expect the fighting to affect transport and energy infrastructure for weeks.
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