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29 March 2024

The $75,000 private jet Eid holiday break

Business has been resilient for Royal Jet, the world’s largest operator of Boeing Business Jets (SUPPLIED)

Published
By Keith J Fernandez

Who says people are cutting costs and scaling back this Eid? Certainly not UAE private jet operator Royal Jet, which expects high interest in a big-ticket luxury private-jet weekend deal it has rolled out.

For a cool $75,000 (Dh275,467), you and 14 other of close friends and family members can hire an entire Boeing Business Jet (BBJ) for a return trip from the UAE to such regional holiday hot spots as Beirut, Amman or the Maldives, says John Morgan, Royal Jet Vice President for Commercial.

“The response to the promotion, especially from brokers, has been pleasing,” he tells Emirates 24|7, “and we expect further enquiries once the dates of the Eid break has been confirmed.” The exact date of Eid is uncertain until the moon has been sighted; a moon-sighting committee in the UAE will meet on Wednesday night to determine if Eid Al-Fitr starts on Thursday or Friday.

Families around the region traditionally travel together in small groups over the Eid holidays, a trend the Abu Dhabi company wants to leverage with its new promotion.

And while the recession has impacted bookings, the company’s business has followed that of the region’s aviation sector – and performance remains strong.

“The recession has obviously made market conditions extremely challenging. However, as the world’s largest operator of Boeing Business Jets, we have seen this specific end of the market prove to be more resilient than the smaller corporate jet market,” he says.

The Middle East business aviation sector has followed an upward curve in the last 12 months, he adds.

“The sector has been resilient in continuing to show a 15 per cent increase in charter bookings. Royal Jet maintained solid growth throughout 2009 as our cost-saving initiatives and strategy of diversification – which is part of our five-year plan to 2013 – paid off handsomely,” Morgan says.

The company’s sales are recovering after last year, he adds, and this recovery is expected to continue over the next few months, factoring in a fleet expansion.

“Over the past three months we have increased our capacity by adding a sixth BBJ to the fleet, reaffirming our position as the world’s largest independent operator of this aircraft. We have also taken delivery of a brand new Embraer Lineage 1000, which fills a niche gap in our fleet offering transcontinental travel for up to 19 passengers in supreme comfort. We are therefore extremely confident,” he says.

Hotel in the sky

Passengers booking the $75,000 deal will likely be served by Royal Jet's new BBJ A6-DFR, which has two onboard lounges, a private office and stateroom complete with ensuite bathroom and shower. The company handout describes it as recreating a feel of a small boutique hotel.

“Our heritage has led to a customer orientated service which focuses on the details that make each and every Royal Jet flight unique. Our levels of safety, luxury, comfort and service are unsurpassed in the world, borne from our experience in carrying Heads of State, dignitaries and VIPs,” Morgan says.

The deal runs until September 15, but the carrier says its new aircraft is also suited for Hajj and Umrah traffic.