As tensions rise in the Middle East due to Operation Epic Fury, people are seeking alternative ways to leave the region, including lengthy border crossings and private SUV convoys. Notably, chartering private jets has surged, now constituting nearly a third of all flights departing from Oman’s main airport.
According to FlightRadar24, a platform that tracks flights in real-time, Oman has emerged as a crucial hub for evacuation and repatriation missions. On Wednesday, private flights made up 31% of the traffic at Muscat International Airport.
By Thursday afternoon, the number of private flights remained steady, representing more than 30% of all airport movements.
Earlier this week, Semafor highlighted that wealthy individuals are increasingly using airports in Oman and Saudi Arabia as gateways to exit the region.
Muscat International Airport in Oman continues to play a key role in facilitating evacuation efforts.
Sources told the news outlet that private security firms are arranging SUV fleets for a 10-hour journey from Dubai to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where travelers can then access private flights.
The clientele evacuating the region are a mix of senior executives at global finance firms and wealthy travelers in the region for business or vacation, according to Semafor.
LIV golfer Jon Rahm, a two-time major winner, was just one of the wealthy who arranged flights amid the turmoil.
Rahm arranged a charter flight through his partnership with VistaJet, a private aviation company, to fly the seven stranded LIV golfers and a caddie from Oman to Hong Kong after their flights were canceled.
After a more than four-hour drive to Oman, the crew flew to Hong Kong.
A spokesperson for Air Charter Service, a company that acts as a global broker for private jets and freight transport, told FOX Business the company has arranged more than 10 evacuation flights, with more scheduled, mainly out of Oman with passengers looking to flee Dubai.
FlightRadar24 shared flights flying in and out of Muscat airport. (@Flightradar24 via X)
“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 spokesperson said. “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.”
Light flight jet trips from Muscat, Oman, to Istanbul, Turkey, are reportedly going for more than $93,000, according to Forbes, which said the price was about double the usual rate.
The outlet added the same route on heavy jets can cost up to $140,000.
This map shows the targets of Iran’s retaliatory strikes. (Fox News)
The U.S. and Israel launched attacks on Iran Saturday, triggering retaliatory attacks targeting countries in the region that host U.S. interests.
Mora Namdar, Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs, advised U.S. citizens 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.
The limited number of available aircraft has pushed up prices, as citizens and travelers attempt to flee.
Related Article
