Private jet movements at Dubai Al Maktoum International Airport/World Central grew 236 percent year-over-year in the first quarter, according to official figures published Saturday. Movements reached 4,904 in the quarter, eclipsing the 1,460 and 1,676 movements in the first three months of 2020 and 2019, respectively.
The Mohammed bin Rashid Aerospace Hub (MBRAH) at Dubai South, the landlord at the massive development area located 40 kilometers (25 miles) from the city center said the movements passed through four FBOs operating at the site: Jetex Executive Aviation, Jet Aviation, DC Aviation, and ExecuJet Middle East. Jetex and Jet Aviation are both located at the facility’s VIP terminal, while the other two companies operate standalone FBOs on the airport.
"Our private jet movements at the VIP terminal in the MBRAH have been increasing steadily since last July, which is a testament to the successful national vaccination campaign and the Emirate’s status as a preferred destination for tourists from across the world,” said MBRAH CEO Tahnoon Saif. “We look forward to sustaining the momentum of aircraft movements as Dubai gears up to welcome the world to Expo 2020 in October.”
In the second half of last year, Jetex reported business at its FBO at the VIP terminal was up 150 percent due to the lack of scheduled airline options facing travelers who wished to visit Dubai. Located in and developed by Dubai South, MBRAH also hosts maintenance centers, as well as training and education campuses, and seeks to strengthen engineering industries.