When pilots Luca Versetti and Fabio Carnevali were made redundant as a result of the pandemic, all hope of salvaging their careers in the near term appeared lost.
But they noticed many people with the means were opting to charter aircraft, instead of flying on commercial flights, because of fears of catching Covid-19.
And the idea for their new business was born.
The pilots set up Global Flight Solutions about five months ago in Abu Dhabi.
Many people who flew business and first class are getting together with another family to charter an aircraft
The company carries out flight support and ground handling for charter aircraft, in addition to selling seats. It works in partnership with another start-up, Limitless Aviation, which flies private jets for the rich.
Like the planes it supports, business is now taking off.
Global Flight Solutions supports five charter flights a week on average in ground handling, many of which fly between Russia and Dubai. To cater to the growing demand, the company is in the process of leasing its own aircraft.
Mr Versetti, 41, who is originally from Italy, lived in the UAE for 13 years. He flew for Etihad until February, when he left for a position at LaudaMotion – a low-cost airline that is part of Ryanair.
He trained with the company before the full effect of the pandemic on the aviation industry became apparent and his new employer rescinded the offer.
Mr Versetti’s business partner and friend, Mr Carnevali, who is also Italian, was made redundant at Etihad about the same time.
“We started thinking about what we could do, what would be next in aviation?” Mr Versetti said.
“And we saw an opportunity. Many people who flew business and first class were getting together with [others] to charter an aircraft. They were paying the same price or less than a first-class ticket.
“For €40,000 ($48,500) or €50,000 a jet can go up and down Dubai to Europe. And it will cost 10 passengers €5,000 each.”
Mr Versetti had already left the UAE and returned to his native Italy.
But he chose to operate the company in Abu Dhabi because of the ease of doing business here.
In addition to running the company, they are both in training to fly for their partner, Limitless Aviation, which was started by a friend of Mr Versetti.
Business is roaring now, and he does not expect it all to come to a stop when a vaccine becomes widely available.
Studies point to a steady growth in private flights.
Technavio, a technology research company, predicts the value of the global charter market will reach $33.08bn in 2024, up from $26.57bn in 2019.
“It’s the present, but it will be the future too. They realise how much it’s nice to fly privately with more or less the same price as a business-class ticket or a first-class ticket,” Mr Versetti said.
“You arrive in a private terminal for private jets and in 10 minutes you are on the aircraft.”
UAE residents flew private jets from India to Dubai in pictures
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Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
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