Madrid: How we turned Jet Luxe into the real deal

Jet Luxe was established in early 2020 with the aim of providing efficient aviation solutions globally. Headquartered in Dubai, the company has set up offices in Casablanca, Mexico City, Miami, London, Mumbai and Hong Kong. The company is known for private jet charter, aircraft management, and aircraft acquisition services.

Jet Luxe was founded during the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic and raising capital was not an easy task recalled Gabriel Meza Madrid, the founder and CEO of Jet Luxe. “No investor was willing to give me a dime. So I had to do it all by myself,” Madrid said.

But Covid has also brought business opportunity for the business aviation industry. Soon enough, the company was operating charter flights that reunited families. The company was doing MEDVAC and emergency flights during the pandemic.

The company primarily operates in the MENA region, with offices in Dubai and Casablanca. But it also operates in the Americas and Europe.

Madrid explained: “We want to focus on emerging markets such as India and Africa. Our Casablanca` office was opened a year ago, but it has grown very fast. Using our Casablanca office, we are serving Western and Central Africa. Africa is growing and it has a huge potential for growth that many people fail to notice.” 

India is also one of the key markets for Jet Luxe. The company also wants to grow its operation in Saudi Arabia.

According to Madrid, his company has a big commercial team adding that it is strengthening its working relationship with aircraft owners by optimising their assets. Jet Luxe has eight aircraft under its management including Bombardier Global 6000 and 5000, Cessna Citation 5, Hawker 800, Hawker 4000 and Embraer Legacy 500. “Every day we are trying to incorporate more aircraft into the light aircraft management model,” Madrid said.

Jet Luxe has grown exponentially. With a humble beginning of a US$5,000 credit card its annual revenue has reached US$62m. Last year the company conducted 2,800 flights. “Our business operation is growing each year,” Madrid said.

According to Jet Luxe’s growth plan, the company will have one billion dollar annual revenue by 2030. The company plans to conduct 10,000 flights per year and to have 1,000 brokers working in the company. It also anticipates having 100 sustainable aircraft under its management.   

The Middle East is a very competitive market and to survive and thrive in the region an aviation company has to excel in service quality and offer competitive price. Madrid strongly believes in building a commendable reputation. “Your customer service has to be second to none. In Jet Luxe we do two things. One we make sure that our team has the best resource and technological platform. Second, we make sure that our customers get the highest standard of service,” Madrid said.

Like any other aviation company Jet Luxe has been facing challenges. Tracking payment is one of the most common challenges that small aviation companies face in daily operation. “There is always a delay in securing payments from various countries due to financial policies. That strains our liquidity,” Madrid said.

The other major challenge is talent search and staff retention. Recruiting and training young professionals is certainly a daunting task. “After you train and mentor a young person by investing your money and time, he will be lured away by another company. Or he decides to change his profession. To keep your young professionals happy is a big challenge,” Madrid said.

To support the company’s growth and alleviate the staff turnover challenge Jet Luxe is planning to establish an accredited brokerage academy. “We are in the process of forming Jet Luxe Training Academy in Dubai and Casablanca. We will have the best training centre where we shall nurture different talents,” Madrid said.