India's Ultra Rich Flee The Country On Private Jets As Covid Cases Surge

While the daily Covid cases spiralling, those who can afford a private jet have decided that it is best to leave the country.

Image Source (PTI)

New Delhi: As per the data issued by the Union Health Ministry on Tuesday, India reported 3,23,144 new COVID19 cases and 2771 deaths which was a marginal dip but the recorded cases remained within 3 lakh. 

Since the cases seem to continue spiral out of control topped with daily reports of shortages in hospital beds, oxygen and drugs wealthy families 'or those who can afford to' are fleeing the country in private jets. 

Indian tycoons, Bollywood superstars and others who can afford to gather funds to book a private jet are fleeing to Europe, the Middle East and the Indian Ocean reported Bloomberg. 

The chief executive officer at New Delhi-based private jet firm Club One Air Rajan Mehra told Bloomberg, “It’s not only the ultra rich, whoever can afford to take a private jet are taking private jets.”

“There was a huge surge to London and Dubai just before the restrictions took place, and the Maldives too before they announced the ban,” Mehra was quoted as saying. 

According to a Gulf News report, a top destination currently is United Arab Emirates, which is only a short flight away and usually operates hundreds of flights. It announced this week that it was barring the entry of travellers from India for 10 days from April 25th.

Certain countries have barred Indians from entering their countries or have banned flights to & fro from India. On Tuesday, Australia announced its ban on passenger flights from India until May 15. One of the first countries to ban flights was New Zealand, earlier this month, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced it was suspending entry of travellers from India, including its own citizens from April 11th to April 28th. 

Despite the high price but haven't been bumped up since the lockdown, while commercial airline costs have spiked. "A one-way flight from New Delhi to Dubai costs as much as 1.5 million rupees ($20,000), including ground handling and other fees, though private-jet operators also charge for the return leg if the plane is empty", Rajan Mehra told Blooomberg. 

While speaking to Bloomberg, Nishant Pitti, co-founder of Easy Trip Planners India, said there’s limited availability to locations such as London following a surge in bookings for “immediate travel.” One-way economy-class trips to Dubai are going for the equivalent of $1,300, more than 10 times the regular price, according to Mehra.

“That shows how desperately people are trying to get away,” he said.