Elite Jets encourages travel agents to come aboard

Elite Jets has revealed plans to boost the role of the travel trade in selling profitable private jet charters in the region.

Specialist charter brokers currently supply between 70% and 80% of the company’s business, but the UAE-based luxury private jet operator is looking to boost sales through traditional travel channels.

“If someone calls a travel agent and asks for four first class tickets to Bahrain for the following day, to return the same evening, that is the perfect opportunity for the agent to suggest a business jet,” said Paras Dhamecha, CEO, Elite Jets.

The company recently signed a strategic alliance with Al Naboodah Travel, and plans to convince more travel companies, to upsell to private air travel.

“We have taken the [Al Naboodah] sales team though an orientation programme, trained them to use the booking system, and familiarised them with the jets so they know the product,” explained Dhamecha.

“They are catching on.

It’s a growing market; as people understand the benefits of travelling by business jet, the more agents will come aboard.”

According to Dhamecha, the GCC has become a big market for business jets, especially to Egypt, Sudan, and West Africa. Eastern Europe, Singapore, China, Hong Kong and Russia are also important markets, he said.

For leisure customers, private jets are an increasingly popular option, particularly for passengers using Dubai as a hub for onward travel, he explained.

“Many Russians fly from Moscow to Dubai with commercial carriers, and then from Dubai to Europe or to holiday destinations like the Maldives and Seychelles,” Dhamecha said.

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