India: millionaires flee in private jets amid devastating COVID-19 outbreak

The growing crisis in India due to an increase in coronavirus infections is pushing wealthy families to flee the country by private jet.

Amid news on social media of a shortage of drugs and hospital beds, Indian tycoons and others who can pay millions of rupees book flights to shelters in Europe, the Middle East and the ocean Indian.

“It’s not just about the ultra-rich,” says Rajan Mehra, CEO of New Delhi-based private jet company Club One Air. “Anyone who can afford a private jet takes private jets.”

India reported 352,991 new infections on Monday, the highest daily number in the world since the start of the pandemic. With the country’s health infrastructure under heavy strain, Bollywood film superstars have been seen fleeing to destinations such as the Maldives, while at least three Australian cricketers have dropped out of the Indian Premier League, the premier club tournament. Sport.

Part of the pressure for the rich to leave India is due to overseas countries taking action to restrict travel from the South Asian state as the new wave of COVID cases -19 has settled in.

Canada, Hong Kong, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom are among more than a dozen states that have imposed restrictions, and other countries are ready to announce measures. The Maldives will prevent Indians from visiting all islands except a handful of resorts from Tuesday, causing a last-minute rush on departures.

“There was a sharp increase in flights to London and Dubai just before the restrictions were imposed, as well as to the Maldives before the ban was announced,” said Mehra, who was previously in charge of India operations for Qatar Airways.

A one-way flight from New Delhi to Dubai costs up to 1.5 million rupees (20,000 USD), including groundhandling services and other fees, although private jet operators also charge for the return trip if the plane is empty, Mehra said.

The exodus has echoes of last year, when India banned medical evacuation flights over fears that the super-rich could falsely claim they needed treatment to cross the country during the blockade after the government banned commercial services.

While private fares were already high and generally not increased, the cost of airline tickets increased.

Nishant Pitti, co-founder of Easy Trip Planners India, said there was limited availability in places like London after an increase in bookings for “immediate trips”.

One-way economy class travel to Dubai costs the equivalent of US $ 1,300, more than 10 times the normal price, according to Mehra.

“It shows how desperate people are to escape,” he said.