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
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
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
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

Transport

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

Sarwat Nasir
Sarwat Nasir
UAE

May 23, 2021

  • English
  • Arabic

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

  • The Indian Air Force transported three empty cryogenic containers from Jamnagar in Gujarat to Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai. The tankers will be filled up with liquid medical oxygen and shipped to India. All pictures courtesy of Indian Ministry of Defence
    The Indian Air Force transported three empty cryogenic containers from Jamnagar in Gujarat to Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai. The tankers will be filled up with liquid medical oxygen and shipped to India. All pictures courtesy of Indian Ministry of Defence
  • Indian Air Force aircraft transported three empty cryogenic containers from Jamnagar in Gujarat to Dubai
    Indian Air Force aircraft transported three empty cryogenic containers from Jamnagar in Gujarat to Dubai
  • The tankers will be filled with liquid oxygen and shipped back to India to aid the country's Covid-19 battle
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  • The UAE is playing its part in supporting India as it seeks to combat a deadly surge in Covid-19 infections
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