Calais ferry strikes create a private jet surge

You might not think that industrial action from a ferry company in Calais would affect private jet volumes. But the combined disruption around the Ferry strikes and tunnel closures saw many travellers left stranded with air travel the only means of crossing the channel.

Private jet service PrivateFly is reporting a significant rise in private jet enquiries and bookings yesterday, as a result of the combined travel chaos created by the strike action in France.

With tunnel services suspended due to protesters, and ferry crossings not running, air travel was the only means of crossing the channel. PrivateFly saw a 74% increase in private jet searches between London and Paris, peaking yesterday evening as the extent of the travel problems unfolded.

Mehdi Dialmy, head of operations at PrivateFly comments:

"The combination of travel chaos created a domino effect that led to a rise in private jet interest. For passengers who had to travel last night, who could not get an airline seat at such short notice, a private jet flight became a viable option. We sold private flights in both directions, costing from £420 per head for a group, with some customers searching and booking via app while stranded at stations, including business travellers, tourists and families".

One customer was a French actress who urgently needed to get back to London for filming and who was not able to get an airline seat yesterday evening.

Dialmy said “The production company contacted us at 6.10pm yesterday, PrivateFly located a Learjet ready and waiting in Paris le Bourget airport, and the passenger was airborne at 7.30pm.”

“With private aviation being highly reactive, agile and 24 hours, travel disruption like this sees a much wider audience of people considering private jet travel.”

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