After the Taliban took power, the people of Afghanistan were in a bad way. Very bad. According to the United Nations, millions of people in the country are at risk of starvation. In view of a looming humanitarian crisis, a Taliban delegation was invited to the Norwegian capital Oslo for official talks. Already the arrival caused a lot of surprise. Because the men didn’t arrive on an ordinary scheduled flight. No. They traveled in a luxury jet. In a Dassault Falcon 7X from the Finnish charter company Jetflite.
The aircraft is manufactured by the French company Dassault Aviation and can accommodate up to 16 passengers. The machine is over 23 meters long, almost eight meters high and has a wingspan of more than 26 meters. Top speed 970 km/h. Cost point per jet: approximately 41 million US dollars.
According to Jetflite, the Dassault Falcon 7X, built in 2014, is “the most technologically advanced business jet in the world”. The machine can travel more than 11,000 kilometers and is much faster than other jets – and uses less fuel. Yes, you read that right. The Dassault Falcon 7X is the world’s greenest private jet.
«Excellent Scandinavian cuisine on board»
However, the Taliban did not have to do without comfort. «The cabin is quiet, light and spacious.
The comfortable sofas in the rear of the cabin can be converted into double beds,” says Jetflite’s website.
Wi-Fi is also available to passengers on their flight. According to his own statement, a special feature. No other charter aircraft would offer such an in-flight service to date. If you need to make a call, you simply use the satellite phone.
And if your stomach growls at dizzy heights – no problem. Flight attendants will serve food and drinks upon request. The company promises: “We are proud of our excellent Scandinavian cuisine on board and will not leave you hungry.”
Short-haul flight for less than 10,000 euros
How much a flight in the luxury jet costs is difficult to say. Because Jetflite usually puts together an individual offer. “For this reason, we do not announce example prices online,” explains the Finnish company. However, there are fixed costs that are incurred in any case. How high they are, is not mentioned on the website.
But there is a little orientation as to what such a flight costs. “Short-haul flights can be purchased for less than 10,000 euros, while long-haul flights are more expensive.”
It is still unclear whether the Taliban delegation will return home in the Dassault Falcon 7X. Meetings with western diplomats are scheduled for Monday and Tuesday. According to the Norwegian government, representatives from the USA and several European countries, including Germany and France, will also take part in the political talks on Monday and Tuesday. These are the first official talks between representatives of the West and the internationally unrecognized Taliban government on European soil. (jmh/AFP)