They say it’s not just about the destination but also the journey, and when travelling to hotels like those in the Five Hotels & Resorts portfolio, the journey has to be something memorable. Enter the luxury, party-cum-lifestyle brand’s new Fly Five service – a private jet which is available for charter to hire for Five guests looking to extend the famous group’s insatiable party vibe.

Guests can charter the $70 million jet from the UAE to destinations within a 12-hour range from, meaning hubs like London, Paris, Singapore, Shanghai, and Moscow are all possible, along with travelling from Dubai to Five’s debut European resort Five Zurich, which opened in the Swiss city last year.

The 16-seater jet – named 9H-Five – comes in glossy white with the brand’s eye-catching pink and purple branding and logo on the livery, setting the tone for what’s to come. Inside, guests can experience a sparkling 73 square metres of floor space, comprising a large communal living space with plush cream swivel and reclining seats, a master bedroom, dining area, cinema room and a gleaming, spacious bathroom. Sofas can be converted into beds to ensure all guests get a good night’s sleep, and catering is provided by the brand – which is tailored to guests’ preferences. Everything is customisable, from the cabin’s colour – displayed in Five purple for the inaugural flight – to the music and vibe, and there’s even the possibility of bringing a DJ on board. Charter rates are between $13,000 to $14,000 per flying hour, equal to around $810 per guest per hour – not too far off some first and business-class rates.

‘We were ready for this experience,’ says CEO of Five Development Nabil Akiki, speaking to Near+Far aboard the debut flight, which travelled from Dubai to Abu Dhabi and showcased the very best of the new offering with a truly FIVE onboard launch party. ‘It’s been the best time to expand our incredible experience on earth to the skies. We have enough venues in Dubai and a great guest experience, and we wanted to take it to one more level – to 30,000 feet in the sky.

‘After, and during covid, luxury travel has changed. People want their privacy, and people are expecting this. When you combine this with the Five experience, it’s a win-win situation. We do what we feel is right to do, and we dare to be the first. Of course, we expect others to do this, but we are ones to do things for the first time. We were one of the pioneers of the outdoor living space and to offer huge terraces for guests with private pools, which so many new developments now have. We are doing what our guests want, and we are ready to do it.’

Five currently operates two hotels in Dubai, the sleek and design-led Five Palm Jumeirah and FIVE Jumeirah Village, with a third beach hotel under construction in JBR. Its first European outpost opened in Switzerland in 2022.

The Dubai-based homegrown hotel group has become the first company to launch the world’s first fully-customised ACJ TwoTwenty, a contrast to other existing hotel private jets, like Four Seasons. The Canadian brand launched its Four Seasons Private Jet Experience aboard Airbus A321neo-LRs, taking groups of guests to different Four Seasons properties across the world.