Silverjet to Dubai

From the Silverjet New Letter.
We’re delighted to announce that from 18 November 2007, we’ll be flying to Dubai from London Luton. Our private terminal in Dubai will offer everything you’ve come to expect from the Silverjet experience, mirroring our service at London Luton to include 30 minute chair-side check-in, dedicated security, WiFi facilities, baggage porters, valet parking, chauffeur service, full refreshments and unique to Dubai - duty free shopping. This makes us the first business class only airline to launch a non-transatlantic service, and also the first commercial airline in the world to offer a private jet experience at both ends of a route.

Flights will leave London Luton daily at 21.00 and arrive in Dubai at 08.30. Return flights will depart Dubai at 10.30 and arrive into London Luton at 14.45 – connecting with the New York service that departs at 16.45. Saver fares from New York to Dubai via London start at $1998 plus taxes one way.

Sounds like a good idea to me lots of money in that part of the world, though they will be competing against some airlines with pretty high standards for service.

Should be a winner for Silverjet, especially on the Luton-DXB sector. Dubai is full of Brit expats many if not most of whom are entitled to business class air travel with their contracts, and many Emiratis go to London on business or for holiday/shopping trips.

As for one stop service from NY, the timings don't look great with a very long outbound layover but you presumably get to hang out at their private terminal at Luton and connecting through there on the way back should be a breeze compared to LHR, CDG, FRA, etc. They might not steal any business from the EK nonstops, but this might be a good option for those who aren't in a hurry.

how many airplanes are they operating currently? i like the fact that it's a 762, you don't see many of those flying anymore.

3 aircraft as of last week...Don't know tail of the 'new' plane but first 2 are G-SJET ("Silver Spirit") and G-SLVR ("Silver Cloud"). The new route referenced at the bottom is presumably DXB.

12 September, 2007

Delivery of third aircraft

Silverjet plc (‘Silverjet’), the British exclusively business class, long haul airline, has taken delivery of its third aircraft, a Boeing 767-200. The aircraft has been owned, operated and maintained by Thomsonfly, formerly Britannia Airways, since delivery from new.

The aircraft is a sister ship to Silverjet's second Boeing 767-200 acquired from Thomsonfly in April this year and is substantially the same in all technical and operational respects.

After fit out, including 102 6ft 3in beds, the aircraft will commence operations in mid-November. Silverjet will announce the route on which the aircraft will operate shortly, following formal confirmation of regulatory approval.

Financing of the aircraft, including the majority of the modification and fit out capital expenses, has been completed, substantially within the parameters of the business plan, through a sale and leaseback arrangement with Novus Capital.

Lawrence Hunt, Chief Executive of Silverjet, said:
“We are delighted to announce the delivery of our third aircraft following the seventh consecutive month of growth in our load factors which reached 80% for the first time in August.

"Once we have had regulatory confirmation we will be in a position to announce the route on which the aircraft will operate from our dedicated terminal at London Luton. This is an exciting time for the business as we look to expand our operations and continue to give air travellers an exceptional customer service experience.”

- ends -