(Jan 3): Qatar Airways said revenue at its private-jet subsidiary rose 26% last year, pointing to continued robust demand for its most exclusive product as more affluent families and business groups choose the flexibility of the smaller aircraft.
“Demand is strong,” Thierry Antinori, the airline’s chief commercial officer, said in an interview in Dubai. “We are taking a higher share of the pie and therefore we can sell even more flights than what we have in supply.”
Private jets were a hot commodity during the pandemic as wealthy travellers sought to cocoon themselves away from the masses, though that rush began tapering off in the years since as normal services resumed on commercial aircraft.
The airline has a fleet of 20 mainly Gulfstream corporate jets that are deployed around the world, and a flight on such an aircraft can cost three to four times as much as a premium seat on commercial Qatar Airways trip, Antinori said.
As Qatar Airways looks to expand in the sector, it’s considering acquiring an air operator certificate in Europe to provide smoother service in the continent, Antinori said. The most popular routes for Qatar Airways’ private jet charters include leisure destinations to the Maldives or the Seychelles, as well as major business hubs like London and New York, according to the company.
Group travel has been a growing trend since the pandemic, with the majority of bookings now placed by families or corporate teams rather than individuals, according to the airline.
Several other carriers in the region also operate private jets, including Saudi Arabia’s flag carrier Saudia as well as Riyadh-based low cost airline Flynas. Dubai’s Emirates operates one Airbus SE corporate jet, and Lebanon’s Middle East Airlines offer two Embraer Legacy 500 aircraft for private charter.
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