Emirates is launching an intriguing new on-demand regional charter service. While it’s probably out of budget for most of us, it’s an interesting concept.
In this post:
Fly Emirates Phenom 100s from Dubai World Central
Emirates has launched a new on-demand regional charter service, for those looking to make short trips within the Gulf region from Dubai World Central Airport (DWC). Dubai World Central is Dubai’s “other” big airport, which could eventually become Emirates’ home.
This new service is intended for those who value flexibility, convenience, privacy, and comfort, for flights to points in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and even within the United Arab Emirates.
These services are operated by Phenom 100 aircraft, which can seat up to four passengers. The chartered planes will be stocked with light bites and refreshments. Each passenger can check one bag weighing up to 15 kilograms, in addition to a carry-on bag.
In Dubai, customers can expect Emirates’ signature chauffeur service to and from the airport, with special treatment upon arrival, including a dedicated representative who will support them through their airport journey. At the destination, customers will receive expedited immigration clearance.
What makes this service so interesting
Obviously there’s a lot of wealth in the Middle East, so there’s demand for private jet travel. That’s why there’s the Emirates Executive division, whereby Emirates has a fleet of large jets that can be chartered. This includes the Airbus A319, but in a configuration that can only accommodate up to 19 passengers. As an Emirates geek, I love how these A319s even have some of the carrier’s first class suites on them.
However, these Phenom 100s don’t belong to the Emirates Executive fleet. Rather they belong to the Emirates Flight Training Academy. Emirates has a pilot training academy at Dubai World Central, and these little jets are used for pilot training.
With that in mind, I wonder about the motivation and logistics for this new on-demand charter service?
- With the number of pilots Emirates is currently training, you’d think the airline would have a shortage of available Phenom 100s to use for other purposes
- Or will these charter flights actually be flown by student pilots, or more likely one instructor and one student pilot?
Bottom line
Emirates is introducing a new on-demand charter service, whereby it’s possible to charter an Emirates Phenom 100 for a flight from Dubai World Central to somewhere in the Gulf region. These planes belong to Emirates’ pilot training academy, separate from Emirates’ typical private jet division.
I’d be curious about the real motive is here — does Emirates just have spare Phenom 100s, is this being used as a way to train pilots while generating revenue, or what?
What do you make of Emirates’ new on-demand charter service?
Finally those jets will find a good use, because to train pilots that was not a good purchase for Emirates
This sounds like an ill-thought out idea. The aircraft is kept at their training hangar, so it first has to be flown from there to DXB due to security/immigration issues. This process starts the clock ticking for your pilots. The aircraft must also return to the training hangar every night. If you charter this, you're essentially paying for two dead legs and, due to pilot hour limitations, you can only fly it for up to...
This sounds like an ill-thought out idea. The aircraft is kept at their training hangar, so it first has to be flown from there to DXB due to security/immigration issues. This process starts the clock ticking for your pilots. The aircraft must also return to the training hangar every night. If you charter this, you're essentially paying for two dead legs and, due to pilot hour limitations, you can only fly it for up to roughly 2hrs according to their briefing. Given the enormous amount of capacity within the GCC from various airlines, who in their right mind thinks this is worth the cost of what I can calculate at 15,000AED/hr? Emirates management does a lot of thngs right, but then they always have these types of things that make you question the intelligence of them or whether it's just dumb-luck that got them to where they are today. I'd love to know the "interest" beyond speculative pricing from Qatar's Executive jet team. More likely this will be shut-down by Christmas and a few Phenom 100s will pop up on the broker listings!
These aircraft are at DWC anyways?
Yes, but they are at the Flight Training Academy, which isn't connected to DWC. Refer to Google Maps and you'll understand. This is the reason for the dead legs to DXB. Otherwise, I'm sure the cost would skyrocket further when accounting for parking charges to store an aircraft at the already full DXB apron.
The article says they depart from DWC rather than DXB.
I see what you mean about the Flight Training Academy being next to DWC, but having no taxiway to DWC (although they may have now built one, or use the road!)
But if this is indeed Instructor+Trainee (shades of JSX) they may take off from FTA and land at DWC - don't trainees need to clock a certain number of rotations as well...
The article says they depart from DWC rather than DXB.
I see what you mean about the Flight Training Academy being next to DWC, but having no taxiway to DWC (although they may have now built one, or use the road!)
But if this is indeed Instructor+Trainee (shades of JSX) they may take off from FTA and land at DWC - don't trainees need to clock a certain number of rotations as well as hours?
P.S. Even if they were using DXB, everything there is owned by the same state, and don't assume that Transfer Pricing requirements are the same as in the USA!
Reminds me of the Lufthansa private jet program (that would connect you seamlessly to secondary cities from Munich and Frankfurt). That program officially ended last year because the market was, apparently, too small. Lufthansa's program was backed by NetJets. I don't see how Emirates can make this work without a similar partner....but I'm amused by the idea of charter customers paying money so that pilots in training can add hours to their logbooks. :)
It was 10,000 M&Ms per flight (I think not per passenger)
It's weird to me that Emirates has no private charter options between a Phenom 100 (tiny by any standard) and A319 (enormous by private jet standards). At least in the US, most private jet travel is done on Citations, Challengers, etc -- sure, there are some huge G450/550/650 and tiny HondaJets, etc out there, but the bread and butter for NetJets, XO, Wheels Up, etc is the ~8-11 seaters with midcon/transcon range.
Smart move.
There is tremendous demand from senior-level executives based in Dubai and Abu Dhabi to fly out to remote airports in the region, especially to Saudi Arabia for day-trips or meetings. These airports are often underserved by regular commercial traffic, if at all.
Agree.
Can you earn miles on Emirates if you book a charter with them?
Would think so, if the planes are painted as Emirates and it is operating as an Emirates flight.