A resourceful approach to brokering aircraft transactions has helped Dubai-based charter operator Jet Luxe gradually build up clientele for its "ownership-lite" Invictus program that provides an alternative to traditional jet cards and fractional ownership. Invictus offers clients with aircraft on demand and the benefits of full ownership, such as dedicated in-flight ambassadors and guaranteed availability, without the high fixed expenses and hidden costs typically associated with owning a business jet.

Founder and CEO Gabriel Madrid said 75 percent of the company's business is charter, and this year it has already arranged around 3,000 flights around the world through its global network. Jet Luxe’s charter fleet includes a Global 6000, Gulfstream V, Bombardier Global XRS, and Hawker 800A.

“The remaining 25 percent of our business is focused on helping clients achieve an 'ownership' status, which includes our Invictus program,” he told AIN. “The fleet is the one we advertise plus whatever we found to be optimized from the market.”

With offices in Hong Kong, the UK, Morocco, the U.S. and Mexico, the company has made the UAE the focus of its business because of rising private wealth in the country and strong demand for private aviation. 

“Compared to other regions around the world, we know historically that [the Middle East] has a very conservative amount of aircraft,” Madrid said. “Acquisition power is very strong. The customer demands an optimal level of service, but the [number] of flights is not very high.”