When an investment firm realised they hadn’t booked regional flights for the trip, we were tasked with arranging a last-minute aircraft charter.
Pulling off a multi-stop business trip at short notice
A venture capitalist firm got in touch with our team in San Francisco with an urgent request. They needed help arranging the air travel for a multi-stop business trip in the Middle East, after a mix-up led to the last-minute discovery that they hadn’t booked any regional flights. With the group touching down in Dubai in a matter of hours for a busy schedule of meetings in several destinations, we sprung into action to confirm a charter solution by the time they landed.
Our Solution
Route: Dubai > Saudi Arabia > Kuwait > Abu Dhabi > Dubai
Aircraft: Gulfstream IV, Eurocopter AS350 B3
Despite the short notice, we initially managed to source one aircraft for all four legs of the client’s itinerary; however, things became more complicated when they asked to delay the fourth leg of the trip. With the original jet unable to facilitate a later departure, we secured a second aircraft, then later replaced that with a helicopter charter for greater flexibility when the client’s timings kept changing.
Another logistical obstacle arose when two of the four passengers didn’t receive their visas for Kuwait in time. Working with our Dubai office, we reached out to the authorities and got permission to obtain the visas upon arrival in Kuwait – something that’s usually not possible at a private terminal. We then brought their flight forward to ensure there was enough time to get the visas before the group’s next meeting.
The Finer Details
Available 24/7: We worked around the clock to pull off this complex charter, liaising closely with the aircraft operators and monitoring each flight to ensure everything ran smoothly.
Global Network: Having an office in Dubai allowed us to provide on-the-ground airport assistance and secure expedited visas.
Above & Beyond: We were able to accommodate all of the client’s requests within a tight timeframe, even arranging onboard catering for each flight.