Another feather in Glamco Aviation s cap | Borneo Bulletin Online borneobulletin.com.bn - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from borneobulletin.com.bn Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
- May 21, 2021, 9:31 AM
In the Middle East the royal family and government delegations have tended to travel in size, giving rise to the phenomenon dubbed the Royal barge bizliners. (Photo: David McIntosh)
With extremely large cabin sizes a traditional feature of the Middle East business jet market,
AIN sought to canvass opinion on whether there has been a regional downsizing of aircraft types due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Traditional Royal Family and government delegations have tended in the past to travel in size, giving rise to the phenomenon dubbed the royal barge bizliners.
While the pandemic has placed more emphasis on travel than the travel in style to which top-notch delegations subscribe, there does seem to be evidence that it will take more than a pandemic to unseat VIP-configured airliners in favor of long-range traditional business jets.
- May 10, 2021, 7:30 AM
Dubai-based Empire Aviation Group has seen demand for charter continue despite Covid and, with the exception of March, every month has been strong since July of last year. (Photo: Empire Aviation Group)
Aside from scheduled cargo, business jet activity has been the only sector in Middle East aviation to prosper during the pandemic, as the dearth of recent airline activity has forced more people to look into air charter or even business aircraft ownership. But the practical realities of day-to-day restrictions have made aircraft operators’ lives difficult.
Factors complicating missions have included border closures, differing immigration rules that often change daily, lockdowns that limit access to suppliers and amenities, health screenings and long quarantine periods restricting crew entry and crew rest, reduced airport opening hours, and manpower shortages.