In 2020, amid the uncertainty of the pandemic, climate change and regional conflicts, Gayo Aviation was launched in Sweden by Gisle Dueland and his sons Amar and Ravi, who are based in Dubai. The company has been serving a global market that it says seems to change by the hour.

One of the biggest challenges it is facing at the moment is the trend towards last minute bookings. Charter operations team leader Agnieszka Klusiewicz, based in Poland, says: "It represents a huge challenge not only from the planning, permit and operations points of view. One big roadblock for the industry is the traditional banking system. Charterers sometimes call us up just before departure, often at weekends, and it is only because we have established relationships with a number of operators that we can facilitate client needs outside of banking hours. In some countries, and on a few platforms, speedier transactions are available, but we really feel that banks need to step up."

Amar Dueland, director of the charter department, adds: "Credit cards don't solve the problem. The card companies charge huge commissions that no one is willing to pay anymore. So we have developed multi-currency payment gateways worldwide, and even enable charterers to pay in cryptocurrency with the most prominent crypto trading platforms. That solved some of the headache for our VIP clients, as the payment gateway closest to the charterer and the operator can be chosen and we get an immediate confirmation of payment received, any time of the day, without the traditional fee and payment structures."

The company will continue to further develop creative payment solutions as it sets up its own FBO and starts to manage its own aircraft. "The market in our region, including Saudi Arabia and India, is booming with new tourism initiatives and thriving business environments," he continues. "We are positioning ourselves and expect to launch new and aligned aviation services shortly."

In the longer term, Gayo's mission is to balance clients with sustainable solutions for the masses; businesses, it says, are increasingly recognising the alignment between sustainability and profitability. As businesses adopt sustainable practices, so consumers will follow.

It has its eye on two significant challenges: fossil fuel emissions and the reliance on heavy infrastructure that could be mitigated by electric, amphibious seaplanes and modern, large-scale airships. Both offer dramatic reductions in carbon emissions and eliminate the need for new runways. The technologies require new value chains and business models, and Gayo has co-founded OceanSky, for the international sales and development of a commercial offer for an airline of airships.

"Both airships and amphibious seaplanes offer exciting possibilities for the future of aviation. However, they necessitate the development of new value chains and business models. Gayo, with its commitment to collaboration, is perfectly positioned to connect stakeholders and spearhead new initiatives in these nascent sectors," says founder Gisle Dueland. He expects creative hospitality leaders in the GCC region, and at iconic tourists destinations such as Venice, to be the ones picking up the challenge.

Hotels, destinations, network airlines and destination management companies have been central to Gayo's network. A partnership with tourism group Liberty International, where Gayo formed an in-house air charter brokerage, gave Liberty’s 70 offices access to aerial logistics planning and operations that aren’t available for a sector that traditionally focuses on incoming tourists and ground handling.

Design plays a crucial role in Gayo's projects, and its partnership with Italian research and design firm MB Vision opens doors to developing not just products and destinations, but also new knowledge-sharing formats. Together they are looking at a network model to facilitate large-scale, adaptable solutions with short lead times. Their first step is MOVE, a centre for mobility and viable ecosystems, located at Nicelli Venice Lido airport in Italy. MOVE fosters interdisciplinary collaboration between industry and academia. They are actively seeking new partners from across the world.

As Gayo embarks on a new four year vision, it projects a 25 per cent annual increase in turnover by 2027, fuelled by new partnerships. The latest launch came in Dubai during the Arabian Travel Market with Kanoo Travel, part of the Middle East’s largest and oldest business conglomerate, aimed at adding MICE, leisure and maritime travel opportunities to Kanoo's portfolio. Director of business development Ravi Dueland has spent the past 18 months on an initiative that entails placing private jets in underserved and emerging markets through investor partnerships. He expects to announce the launch of a first aircraft and base very soon.