1,700 private jets set to fly into Davos for World Economic Forum


comments

This week the skies above Switzerland will be crammed full of private jets as billionaires and world leaders attend the annual World Economic Forum in Davos.

There is set to be twice as many jets as normal in the airspace as those attending the meeting insist on travelling in style.

Around 1,700 private flights are predicted over the course of the week, a five per cent rise on last year for the 2014 forum.

The mountain town of Davos will host the 2015 World Economic Forum, with delegates travelling by jet

The mountain town of Davos will host the 2015 World Economic Forum, with delegates travelling by jet

A 14-seater Global Express XRS has been hired for around £18,500 (€24,000) return from Paris to Zurich.

A 14-seater Global Express XRS has been hired for around £18,500 (€24,000) return from Paris to Zurich

Zurich airport will handle most of the incoming private jets, but a new landing zone has been opened up via the Duebendorf military base, near Zurich, which has room for 40 private jets and is a one-hour helicopter ride from picturesque Davos.

Zurich airport has been fully booked for some time, with around 60 jets guaranteed space there.

Speaking to MailOnline Travel, CEO of PrivateFly, the global private jet booking service, said: 'We have booked a total of 20 flights to Davos for a variety of clients.

'For one client, we managed to book an empty leg on one of our flights. We already have a client booked to fly back from Zurich on Wednesday evening (January 21).

The plush interior of the Global XRS that will be transporting delegates to the forum

The plush interior of the Global XRS that will be transporting delegates to the forum

Delegates who are attending the forum are choosing private jets ahead of road transport

Delegates who are attending the forum are choosing private jets ahead of road transport

'The Citation XL aircraft needed to reposition back from London to Zurich the following morning, so another client flying in to Davos on day two was able to book the empty leg for just £3,000.

'At the other end of the scale, we have some large body, long range jets flying in, such as a flight from Paris Le Bourget to Zurich in a 14-seater Global Express XRS for around £18,500 (€24,000) return.

'Flights have not sold out - but slot availability is limited for Zurich. Some specific take-off and landing times are no longer available and aircraft parking is limited, so private jets are repositioning in and out from other nearby airports.

'Zurich Airport handles the bulk of business aviation traffic during the forum, with St. Gallen Airport and Samedan St. Moritz Airport also handling an increased number of flights for the event. 

'Additionally, the nearby military airport in Dubendorf opens up during this time of year to help ease congestion at Zurich by allowing private aircraft to park there between inbound and outbound flights.'

The Citation XL was booked able to book the empty leg for just £3,000 from London to Zurich

The Citation XL was booked able to book the empty leg for just £3,000 from London to Zurich

The interior of the Citation XL which will offer its customers a little bit of luxury on the way to Switzerland

The interior of the Citation XL which will offer its customers a little bit of luxury on the way to Switzerland

Zurich Airport has room for 60 private jets ahead of the World Economic Forum at Davos

Zurich Airport has room for 60 private jets ahead of the World Economic Forum at Davos

St. Gallen-Altenrhein and Engadin are the other airports Davos-bound delegates will have to use if prior booking hasn't been made.

At last year's forum, 500 people travelled by helicopter to the event from Zurich airport, a total of 20 per cent of the entire audience, as trains and cars become the less favoured option.

More than 1,500 business leaders and 40 heads of state or government will attend the Jan. 21-24 meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) to network and discuss big themes, from the price of oil to the future of the Internet.

This year they are meeting in the midst of upheaval, with security forces on heightened alert after attacks in Paris, the European Central Bank considering a radical government bond-buying programme and the safe-haven Swiss franc rocketing.

 

 



IFTTT

Put the internet to work for you.

Delete or edit this Recipe

0 comments:

Post a Comment