Private flights to one Dubai airport soar by 78 per cent as well-heeled travellers including Love Island stars escape Lockdown Britain
Private flights to a Dubai airport soared by 78 per cent at the end of last year as well-heeled travellers including Love Island stars rushed to escape Lockdown Britain.
The Mohammed Bin Rashid Aerospace Hub is part of Dubai South commercial estate near Al Maktoum International Airport, and has experienced a huge increase in traffic.
The hub saw nearly more than three-quarters more private jet movements during October, November and December 2020 compared to the same period in 2019.
A collection of reality stars travelled to United Arab Emirates over the festive season, despite the ongoing Covid pandemic.
It was claimed some Love Island stars who made the trip received 'relentless' abuse and even death threats.
A collection of reality stars travelled to United Arab Emirates over the festive season. Pictured: Maura Higgins in the city before the third lockdown
Kady McDermott, pictured in Dubai, is another reality star to have made the trip before the lockdown
Laura Anderson, Molly-Mae Hague, Maura Higgins, Amber Davies, Georgia Harrison and Kady McDermott were among those to jet off before the third national lockdown.
The city had been an ideal choice for many as visitors at the time weren't required to quarantine upon their return to the UK.
Many stars have insisted their trips are for 'work' with the government asking UK residents to avoid unnecessary travel.
An agent, whose client had travelled to Dubai, told the Mirror earlier this month: 'We manage their social media accounts and I've seen a number of death threats in direct messages.
'It's been relentless. We warned them not to travel abroad while a lot of the nation is under severe restrictions as it's a terrible look, but they ignored it.'
The source added that 'work' for Love Island stars constitutes of 'doing vlogs' or 'advertising diet drinks', which allows the reality stars to travel and stay in free hotels in return for 'publicity'.
They added: 'But it has gone down like a lead balloon with their fans, and you have to wonder if it's really worth it.
Tahnoon Saif, CEO of Mohammed Bin Rashid Aerospace Hub said: 'It gives us immense pleasure to see the substantial increase in private jet travel across the VIP Terminal at MBRAH for the second consecutive quarter.
'This exceptional performance is due to, among many reasons, Dubai's status as a preferred destination for tourists, associated with the launch of the 'World's Coolest Winter' campaign, and the UAE ranking among the top countries in the world in efficiently handling the COVID-19 pandemic.'
Several Love Island stars were forced to hit back at angry fans after they were criticised for jetting off.
The Mohammed Bin Rashid Aerospace Hub is part of Dubai South commercial estate near Al Maktoum International Airport, and has experienced a huge increase in traffic
In December, Molly-Mae, 21, who flew to The Maldives following a break in Dubai with beau Tommy Fury, insisted she didn't break any rules, as the couple left their Manchester home under Tier 2 COVID-19 restrictions.
Taking to Instagram at the time, the influencer revealed that she had been inundated with angry messages as she admitted she couldn't 'wrap head around' the draconian limits of Tier 4, particularly with Christmas rapidly approaching.
She wrote: 'In response to the messages I'm already getting about us being away throughout this time... Please understand that Tommy and I left the UK from Cheshire which was in Tier 2 at the time. We didn't break any rules coming away.
'If we knew these rules were going to be put in place then obviously we would have never left the UK. The minute we arrive home we will be following government guidelines.'