The 49th World Economic Forum Annual Meeting sees world leaders, academics investors, entrepreneurs and business executives gather in Switzerland. Many delegates will rely on the seamlessness of private jet travel to get to Davos to avoid the disruption and the delays of charted services.
This year's World Economic Forum will see thousands of the world's elite arrive in Davos to discuss global, regional and industry agendas, causing a spike in private jet traffic at the surrounding airports of Zurich and St-Gallen-Altenrhein.
Air Partner, the leading global aviation services company, is predicting a marked increase in the number of private jets landing in the eastern Swiss Alps as jets and helicopters deliver a host of world leaders, senior government officials, top investors, entrepreneurs, academics and media to Davos in January 2019.
This year's World Economic Forum is set to be one of the most popular in history due to increased debate on the role of globalisation in ensuring a sustainable global economy. Many of the world's leaders will arrive by private jet to provide them with seamless journeys and to avoid the disruption and delay of chartered services.
Donald Trump made the biggest headline at last year's event as he declared America 'open for business'. This year the Swiss organisation is aiming to promote a more inclusive message, against the backdrop of an increasingly fragmented political landscape which has caused socioeconomic divisions around the world.
January 2018 saw 982 private jet departures to the eastern Swiss Alps, up nine per cent from the same period in 2017, and around 30 per cent more than in the average month, according to Air Partner and WingX, the global market intelligence company.
The closest airport to the remote mountain resort is St Gallen-Altenrhein, nestled in the eastern Swiss Alps. Travel time is just under an hour and a half drive from the exclusive event, though most of those attending will travel via Zurich airport. Air Partner can then provide delegates with a seamless service involving transfer by helicopter and private/chauffeured cars to reach this remote location.
Julia Timms, Chief Marketing Officer Air Partner, said, "For over 20 years Air Partner has been trusted by the world's elite and has flown political leaders and the leaders of FTSE 100 companies to take part in the World Economic Forum each year in Davos.
This year we expect to arrange a number of private jets to fly our clients to Switzerland to attend this incredibly prestigious event. Leaders of international organisations cannot afford to wait for scheduled services or experience any kind of disruption. They know they can rely on private jet travel with Air Partner to ensure they are able to travel quickly and efficiently.
Our highly experienced Account Managers are on hand around the clock to organise private jets and helicopters to Davos and other destinations around the world, so some of the world's most important and busiest people are able to travel in comfort and style.
Those planning on taking a private jet from London to Zurich can expect to pay around £8,000 for a six-seater light jet, while those travelling from Paris around £7,000 for a six-seater jet and around £90,000 for a 12-seater jet Global Cabin Aircraft from New York.
Air Partner also provides a helicopter service from Zurich to Davos from £7,500 to ensure clients have a seamless and efficient journey, arriving even closer to their final destination at Davos.
More than 2,500 business leaders and heads of state or governments will attend the World Economic Forum from 22-25 January 2019 in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland to discuss the main agenda of globalisation and global power.
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Uplift in private jet usage as delegates head to Eastern Alps for World Economic Forum in Davos PDF (118kB)