Silverjet will begin daily flights to Dubai in November following the success of its business-only services to New York, launched in January.
Britain, Dubai’s leading inbound market, sends about 750,000 visitors a year, and the launch will put the UK business-only carrier head-to-head with Dubai-based Emirates. However, Silverjet chief executive Lawrence Hunt said: “Premium air traffic to Dubai is growing at 20% a year.”
Hunt reported an £18 million loss on the carrier’s first year of operation in preliminary results released today, but noted the sale of 80% of seats to New York in August.
Silverjet operates from its own terminal at Luton and offers 102 fully flatbeds per flight. The carrier took delivery of a third Boeing 737 aircraft, formerly operated by Thomsonfly, last week and will begin a second daily Luton-New York service on September 23.
Services to Dubai will launch on November 18 with an introductory return fare of £999 for the first month and fares thereafter from £1,099.