Gulf Air is set to become the second airline to wet-lease an airliner-class business jet for scheduled services, with the launch this week of an Abu Dhabi-Geneva VIP shuttle using a Boeing Business Jet. The service will be flown by charter operator Royal Jet, which was formed in May by joint venture partners Abu Dhabi Aviation and Abu Dhabi Amiri Flight as the emirate's first business jet charter provider (Flight International, 6-12 May).
Gulf Air is to wet-lease the 737-based BBJ to run a weekly service, augmenting the Airbus A330-200 from the mainline fleet already operated on the route. The BBJ has been configured into a 42-seat three-class service for VIPs and business-class passengers.
Gulf Air chief executive James Hogan says the shuttle is "another innovation" in the airline's offerings and will be combined with fast-track immigration and car service similar to a fixed-base operation.
Royal Jet follows PrivatAir into the wet-lease corporate jet market, after the Swiss charter operator started scheduled transatlantic business class-only services for Lufthansa last November. Neighbouring Qatar Airways is to operate its Airbus A319 Corporate Jetliner and A319 Long Range in VIP configuration on short-haul scheduled services from Doha, but has yet to reveal more specific plans.
Source: Flight International
