UAE threatens to ban private jet operators for selling seats on per person basis

Charter flight companies can only accept single booking from a group

Private jet use has boomed during the pandemic - as has the trend for operators to sell by the seat instead of taking bookings from groups. Getty Images

The UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has threatened to ban private jet operators from pooling charter flights between passengers.

Business jet companies received an official circular to remind them that selling seats on a per person basis is prohibited.

The warning comes at a time when Indians are spending thousands of dollars on seats on private jets to return to Dubai amid travel restrictions.

“When business aircraft are used to transport passengers from restricted destinations, they shall not be pooled or sold per seat,” the authority said.

“Operators hired for pooling or 'per seat offer' may be banned from operating in the UAE. [The] GCAA is collecting all information required from local authorities to verify flight and passenger information.”

Flights from India were suspended by the UAE on April 24, including transit flights, as India continues to battle a surge in Covid-19 cases.

Since then, doctors and businessmen who are UAE residents have spent up to Dh20,000 each for seats on jets from Delhi and Mumbai.

Only UAE citizens, diplomats, passengers on business planes and golden card visa holders are exempted from the suspension.

Flights from Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bangladesh were also banned in early May.

Each of those countries reported cases of the Indian 'double variant'.

The maximum number of passengers on charter flights should not exceed eight, the circular said.

Two private jet operators confirmed to The National on Sunday that they received the circular and were adhering to the rules.

Indian air force refills oxygen tanks at Dubai airport - in pictures