Travelers stranded in Dubai paying huge sums to flee on private charter flights amid Operation Epic Fury
Riyadh has reportedly become one of the main hubs for people looking to escape the region
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Travelers stranded in Dubai have been left scrambling to find a way home after the airport closed due to the U.S.-Israeli joint military offensive, Operation Epic Fury.
Dubai's two major hubs, Dubai International Airport (DXB) and Dubai World Central (DWC), reopened March 2 with limited operations, according to The Economic Times. But that hasn't stopped travelers with means from trying to find other ways to flee. Some wealthy travelers have resorted to paying large sums for private charter flights to escape the escalating situation.
A spokesperson for Air Charter Service, a company that acts as a global broker for private jets and freight transport, told FOX Business that "demand is definitely increasing" as Operation Epic Fury continues.
"There is an increasingly limited number of aircraft willing and able to fly to and from the area, with many local aircraft that would usually be used for flights from the region being stuck in airports that are closed," the spokesperson said.
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Travelers in the Middle East are left stranded after Israel and the U.S. attacked Iran. (Shbaro/Anadolu via Getty Images / Getty Images)
The limited number of available aircraft has pushed up prices, but some passengers are attempting to reduce costs by booking shorter flights out of the region and then taking commercial aircraft elsewhere.
"Many passengers are taking shorter flights to places out of the region and then picking up scheduled connections for the rest of their journey to reduce full journey costs," the spokesperson said, noting that travelers have largely flown to Europe or Istanbul before continuing to their final destinations.
The cost of light flight jet trips from Muscat, Oman, to Istanbul, Turkey, are reportedly selling for over $93,000, according to Forbes, which said the price was about double the usual rate. Additionally, Forbes reported that trips on heavy jets on the same route can cost up to $140,000.
Some outlets have reported higher prices, with Semafor reporting that Ameerh Naran, chief executive of private jet brokerage Vimana Private, said the cost for private jets from Riyadh to Europe could be as much as $350,000.
Several flights were canceled amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East after the U.S. and Israel's launch of Operation Epic Fury. (Houssam Shbaro/Anadolu via Getty Images / Getty Images)
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Airports in Oman and Saudi Arabia have reportedly become travel hubs for ultra wealthy travelers looking to leave, according to Semafor. The outlet, citing people familiar with the matter, said that private security companies have been booking fleets of SUVs to take people on the 10-hour drive from Dubai to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where they can then take private flights out of the region. Semafor reported that those evacuating the region are a mix of senior executives at global finance firms and wealthy travelers in the region for business or vacation.
Air Charter Service has arranged more than 10 evacuation flights, the spokesperson said, adding that more were scheduled. The spokesperson told FOX Business that the flights are mainly out of Oman with passengers looking to flee Dubai.
"We evacuated some of our own staff who were just visiting the region, and we arranged transport via the Hatta crossing into Oman from the UAE to get them to Muscat from where they flew out of the region. The border crossing time at Hatta took around 3-4 hours, as of Sunday, but I suspect this has increased now, as more people look at this option," the spokesperson told FOX Business.
Travelers in the Middle East are scrambling to flee the region. (Houssam Shbaro/Anadolu via Getty Images / Getty Images)
On Saturday, the U.S. and Israel launched attacks on Iran, killing Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Iran has since launched retaliatory attacks targeting countries in the region that host U.S. interests. Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs Mora Namdar said U.S. citizens are advised to leave Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, the West Bank and Gaza, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen. However, not all of them have a way out.
The U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem said Tuesday it is "not in a position at this time to evacuate or directly assist Americans in departing Israel."
Other U.S. embassies in the region have instructed Americans who need help arranging departure via commercial means to contact the State Department 24/7 at +1-202-501-4444 from abroad or +1-888-407-4747 from the U.S. and Canada.
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Fox Business' Ashley Carnahan contributed to this report.