DEMAND FOR executive jet travel appears to be holding up in spite of the collapse in the economy. Geneva-based Jet Republic, which only launched last September, told me this week that it has brought forward plans to open an Irish sales office due to demand.

“We were looking at rolling out in Ireland next year but we’re trying to bring that forward,” said Jonathan Breeze, Jet Republic’s chief executive. “Based on what we’ve seen so far we’re accelerating our plans to establish a sales office in Ireland this year. We’ve been pleasantly surprised by what we’ve seen.”

Breeze puts some of the demand from Ireland down to the closure of routes out of our three international airports, and Dublin in particular.

A recent analysis by Jet Republic shows that 71 routes were closed out of Dublin over the past year, the fourth highest total recorded by a European city. This translated into 10,692 seats pulled from routes out of Dublin.

Only London, Berlin and Barcelona had more flights cancelled, with Dublin ahead of Paris, Rome and Amsterdam, among others.

Breeze wouldn’t give details of the number of customers carried from here but said Ireland was its fifth busiest territory, ahead of Italy. “It’s done that without any formal effort from us.”

London, Geneva and Paris are the most used destinations out of Dublin. The limousine-type service doesn’t come cheaply – a flight to London can cost about €5,000, Breeze said. “Our typical customers earn millions a year and own multiple businesses. They’re guys you’ve probably never heard of, guys who own factories abroad or have property investments.”

Jet Republic offers fractional ownership of its plush aircraft as well as a member’s card that entitles executives to a certain number of trips without having to buy a stake in the aircraft.