With more than 400 events due to take place across the Middle East over the next four months, Air Charter International (ACI), a leading aircraft charter and leasing company, is reporting unprecedented demand for private jet travel from Arab nationals and wealthy international tourists wanting to visit the Middle East.
Prestige international sporting and shopping events such as the Bahrain Grand Prix, February Festival in Kuwait, Desert Classic golf, World Cup horse race and Dubai Shopping Festival are luring wealthy travelers from the wider Middle East, Far East, Indian Subcontinent and Australia, to the region.
The dozens of fairs, conferences, trade shows, exhibitions and seminars held every month in countries across the Middle East is also fueling demand for private jet travel, according to ACI.
“Spring is traditionally one of the most action packed seasons in the Middle East, with hundreds of activities scheduled to take place every month,” said Caroline Anderson, director, Full Circle, one of the region’s leading event organizing companies. “The mixture of sporting, cultural and business events is wide and varied, and is helping to attract a large number of regional and international visitors.”
ACI, which can source jets ranging in size from six seats up to large passenger airliners, flew dozens of overseas visitors to the recently concluded Dubai Shopping Festival, with a large proportion coming from the Far East in particular.
The Bahrain Formula One Grand Prix poses particular problems for racing fans wanting to watch the action, because many flights to Manama have been fully booked for months. ACI has already secured several private jets for international visitors, and is dealing with inquiries on a daily basis.
“Demand for charter flights this year has been exceptional. Interest is coming from a number of overseas countries as well as from within the region, and we are already arranging flights for the Bahrain Grand Prix which starts on April 1,” said Danielle Shehab, sales and marketing manager, ACI.
The Dubai-based company, which has offices in the Far East and Europe, is able to respond to requests for airplane charters because its team is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. “Countries such as Bahrain, Qatar and the UAE are attracting increasing international media attention, which is helping drive demand from people who want to enjoy all that the region has to offer,” added Shehab.
