Wealthy Brits are fleeing the UK in private jets to avoid new lockdowns ahead of Christmas while Londoners are trapped in their city

Thomas PalliniDec 23, 2020, 01:27 IST

Private jet travelers.Erickson Stock/Shutterstock

Private aviation firms are reporting an increase in bookings from over the weekend out of London as the UK government imposes new lockdowns.
A new strain of coronavirus prompted the government to shut down most of London and South East England.
Over 40 countries have closed borders with the UK or implemented stricter entry restrictions, leading airlines to cancel flights.

As Londoners flocked to train stations over the weekend in a last-ditch effort to escape new lockdown restrictions, British high society went to London's private jet terminals to catch charter flights out of the country.

Parts of the UK entered into a "Tier 4 lockdown" this week amid news of a rapidly spreading new strain of the novel coronavirus. London is among those regions impacted by the lockdown that severely limits travel and mandates residents to "stay at home," unless they have a "reasonable excuse" to leave.

The new lockdown is expected to extend through the Christmas holiday, causing a mass exodus from the city before it became illegal to leave, as the BBC reported. While the masses turned to cars, trains, commercial airliners, and busses to flee the city, those fortunate enough to do so turned to private aviation firms, who've say they've seen an increase in UK bookings from the weekend.

"Enquiries reached a peak yesterday, with many looking to travel to second homes for Christmas or bring forward pre-booked flights with us to warmer destinations such as Dubai or the Maldives," Mark Briffa, the CEO of private charter brokerage Air Partner, told Business Insider.

Fleeing the country was made more difficult as the rest of the world closed their borders to Britain amid news of a deadlier strain of the novel coronavirus. A March redux, over 40 countries from Canada to Singapore, Argentina to Hong Kong have banned flights from the UK, the New York Times reports, or are requiring quarantines for inbound passengers.

"As some countries suspend travel to and from the UK, many of our clients are making last-minute arrangements with us to leave the country before borders close," Briffa said.

Lockdowns have bolstered private aviation travel as the wealthy are willing to shell out tens of thousands of dollars for safe passage away from the hardships at home. While it's helped to keep the private aviation industry afloat, it's also highlighted a division in how the wealthy are thriving during the pandemic in luxury while everyday people struggle through it.

Travelers filed London's St. Pancras International on Sunday looking to flee the country on what they thought would be the last train out of London bound for Paris.

Eurostar passengers waiting to board the train to Paris from London. Stefan Rousseau/PA Images/Getty

The next day, rail operator Eurostar - which connects the UK with mainland Europe via the famed Channel Tunnel - canceled its trains from London as France, the Netherlands, and Belgium closed its borders with Great Britain.

A Eurostar departure board in London. NIKLAS HALLE'N/AFP/Getty

The next day, rail operator Eurostar - which connects the UK with mainland Europe via the famed Channel Tunnel - canceled its trains from London as France, the Netherlands, and Belgium closed its borders with Great Britain.

Similar queues formed at Heathrow Airport on Sunday to board last-minute flights before airlines began cancellations.

Travelers leaving London before new lockdown restrictions. Xinhua/Tim Ireland/Getty

And while the train stations remained empty...

An empty St. Pancras International in London. NIKLAS HALLE'N/AFP/Getty

The wealthy flocked to London's smaller airports like Biggin Hill, Luton, and Stansted.

London's Biggin Hill Airport. David Goddard/Getty

"The trend we are seeing of our clients leaving the UK will likely increase over the next few days as the threat of a UK border closure looms, and as other countries continue to impose temporary bans on arrivals from the UK," Briffa said.

Private jets departing the UK during Tier 4 lockdown. Thomas Pallini/Business Insider via Flightradar 24

"The trend we are seeing of our clients leaving the UK will likely increase over the next few days as the threat of a UK border closure looms, and as other countries continue to impose temporary bans on arrivals from the UK," Briffa said.

The luxurious exodus continues a trend that started in March as the wealthy have been turning to private jets in fear of commercial airline travel in the wake of the pandemic, despite the best effort of airlines to calm an anxious traveling public.

Andrew Harker/Shutterstock.com

The luxurious exodus continues a trend that started in March as the wealthy have been turning to private jets in fear of commercial airline travel in the wake of the pandemic, despite the best effort of airlines to calm an anxious traveling public.

"On Monday, we saw a huge surge in clients requesting to fly out of the UK, so much so that demand reached similar levels to what we usually experience in normal peak summer season," Toby Edwards, co-CEO of private charter brokerage Victor, told Business Insider in a statement. "And just like in peak season, aircraft availability is a challenge."

Private jets departing the UK during Tier 4 lockdown. Thomas Pallini/Business Insider via Flightradar 24

"On Monday, we saw a huge surge in clients requesting to fly out of the UK, so much so that demand reached similar levels to what we usually experience in normal peak summer season," Toby Edwards, co-CEO of private charter brokerage Victor, told Business Insider in a statement. "And just like in peak season, aircraft availability is a challenge."

Victor saw a 167% increase in bookings with all UK flights since the lockdown announcement on Saturday being booked on a "go now" or "go tomorrow" basis.

A Cessna Citation aircraft being marshaled in the snow in Oslo. HANNAH MCKAY/Reuters

"The list of destinations still open includes countries such as Spain, Greece, and Dubai," Andy Christie, group private jets director at private jet brokerage Air Charter Service, told Business Insider in a statement. "However we are still monitoring the situation, which is changing rapidly."

Private jets departing the UK during Tier 4 lockdown. Thomas Pallini/Business Insider via Flightradar 24

"The list of destinations still open includes countries such as Spain, Greece, and Dubai," Andy Christie, group private jets director at private jet brokerage Air Charter Service, told Business Insider in a statement. "However we are still monitoring the situation, which is changing rapidly."

"We actually saw a 30% increase in bookings over the weekend compared with the corresponding weekend last year mainly with people travelling home for Christmas," Christie said.

Private jets departing the UK during Tier 4 lockdown. Thomas Pallini/Business Insider via Flightradar 24

"We actually saw a 30% increase in bookings over the weekend compared with the corresponding weekend last year mainly with people travelling home for Christmas," Christie said.

Some private jets found on Flightradar 24 were heading across the Atlantic as not all Western Hemisphere countries have restricted flights from the UK.

Private jets departing the UK during Tier 4 lockdown. Thomas Pallini/Business Insider via Flightradar 24

The US and many Caribbean countries, among others, are still welcoming UK travelers.

Private jets departing the UK during Tier 4 lockdown. Thomas Pallini/Business Insider via Flightradar 24

Private jets often have their flight plan data shielded from public view so there's little way of knowing where all of these jets are headed or if all are carrying British citizens fleeing lockdown.

Private jets departing the UK during Tier 4 lockdown. Thomas Pallini/Business Insider via Flightradar 24

Private jets often have their flight plan data shielded from public view so there's little way of knowing where all of these jets are headed or if all are carrying British citizens fleeing lockdown.

Border closures with the UK can also lead to an influx of flights to the country as residents don't want to be stranded abroad.

Private jets departing the UK during Tier 4 lockdown. Thomas Pallini/Business Insider via Flightradar 24

"If this situation continues we will expect scheduled airlines to start cancelling more inbound flights as well as outbound, and as a result, we could see an increase of private jet bookings with more people trying to get back to the UK for Christmas who have seen their scheduled flights cancel," Christie said.

A Ryanair aircraft taxis behind an easyJet aircraft at Manchester Airport in Manchester, UK. REUTERS/Andrew Yates

"If this situation continues we will expect scheduled airlines to start cancelling more inbound flights as well as outbound, and as a result, we could see an increase of private jet bookings with more people trying to get back to the UK for Christmas who have seen their scheduled flights cancel," Christie said.

Known as repatriation flights, these flights are typically reserved for emergency situations.

A Bombardier Global 6500 private jet. Thomas Pallini/Business Insider

"Currently, the UK border remains open, but if it were to close, there would be very few exemptions for those wanting to travel in or out of the country - it would be limited to business travel and emergency evacuation flights," Briffa said.

Private jets departing the UK during Tier 4 lockdown. Thomas Pallini/Business Insider via Flightradar 24

"Currently, the UK border remains open, but if it were to close, there would be very few exemptions for those wanting to travel in or out of the country - it would be limited to business travel and emergency evacuation flights," Briffa said.

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Wealthy Brits are fleeing the UK in private jets to avoid new lockdowns ahead of Christmas while Londoners are trapped in their city

Travelers filed London's St. Pancras International on Sunday looking to flee the country on what they thought would be the last train out of London bound for Paris.

The next day, rail operator Eurostar - which connects the UK with mainland Europe via the famed Channel Tunnel - canceled its trains from London as France, the Netherlands, and Belgium closed its borders with Great Britain.

Similar queues formed at Heathrow Airport on Sunday to board last-minute flights before airlines began cancellations.

And while the train stations remained empty...

The wealthy flocked to London's smaller airports like Biggin Hill, Luton, and Stansted.

"The trend we are seeing of our clients leaving the UK will likely increase over the next few days as the threat of a UK border closure looms, and as other countries continue to impose temporary bans on arrivals from the UK," Briffa said.

The luxurious exodus continues a trend that started in March as the wealthy have been turning to private jets in fear of commercial airline travel in the wake of the pandemic, despite the best effort of airlines to calm an anxious traveling public.

Victor saw a 167% increase in bookings with all UK flights since the lockdown announcement on Saturday being booked on a "go now" or "go tomorrow" basis.

"The list of destinations still open includes countries such as Spain, Greece, and Dubai," Andy Christie, group private jets director at private jet brokerage Air Charter Service, told Business Insider in a statement. "However we are still monitoring the situation, which is changing rapidly."

"We actually saw a 30% increase in bookings over the weekend compared with the corresponding weekend last year mainly with people travelling home for Christmas," Christie said.

Some private jets found on Flightradar 24 were heading across the Atlantic as not all Western Hemisphere countries have restricted flights from the UK.

The US and many Caribbean countries, among others, are still welcoming UK travelers.

Private jets often have their flight plan data shielded from public view so there's little way of knowing where all of these jets are headed or if all are carrying British citizens fleeing lockdown.

Border closures with the UK can also lead to an influx of flights to the country as residents don't want to be stranded abroad.

Known as repatriation flights, these flights are typically reserved for emergency situations.

"Currently, the UK border remains open, but if it were to close, there would be very few exemptions for those wanting to travel in or out of the country - it would be limited to business travel and emergency evacuation flights," Briffa said.