<strong>VIP airliners:</strong> Got a spare $87 million? That's the catalog price of an Airbus ACJ319 (pictured). While private jets come in all shapes and sizes, the ultimate status statement is the VIP airliner.
VIP airliners: Got a spare $87 million? That's the catalog price of an Airbus ACJ319 (pictured). While private jets come in all shapes and sizes, the ultimate status statement is the VIP airliner.
courtesy Airbus
<strong>Dining area on an Airbus ACJ319: </strong>The last couple of decades have seen a dramatic increase in the number of billionaires and multimillionaires worldwide, driving the demand for ever more luxurious ways to jet around the globe.
Dining area on an Airbus ACJ319: The last couple of decades have seen a dramatic increase in the number of billionaires and multimillionaires worldwide, driving the demand for ever more luxurious ways to jet around the globe.
courtesy Airbus
<strong>Master bedroom on an Airbus ACJ319: </strong>To cater to this market, the major aircraft manufacturers have developed corporate versions of their best-selling airliners. The product range of Airbus Corporate Jet (ACJ) includes specially configured variants of their popular models.
Master bedroom on an Airbus ACJ319: To cater to this market, the major aircraft manufacturers have developed corporate versions of their best-selling airliners. The product range of Airbus Corporate Jet (ACJ) includes specially configured variants of their popular models.
courtesy Airbus
<strong>Airbus ACJ350:</strong> The most deep-pocketed buyers can also order larger models, such as the Boeing 747 and Airbus A340 or the newest Boeing 787 and Airbus A350 (pictured).
Airbus ACJ350: The most deep-pocketed buyers can also order larger models, such as the Boeing 747 and Airbus A340 or the newest Boeing 787 and Airbus A350 (pictured).
courtesy Airbus
<strong>Comlux Airbus ACJ 319:</strong> <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.comluxaviation.com" target="_blank" target="_blank">Comlux</a> is a Swiss firm specializing in the design, outfitting and operation of large corporate jets.
Comlux Airbus ACJ 319: Comlux is a Swiss firm specializing in the design, outfitting and operation of large corporate jets.
courtesy Airbus
<strong>Bathroom on the Comlux Airbus ACJ 319:</strong> "Some of the people that fly in these large corporate jets may own already a smaller aircraft for their solo business trips, but may buy or rent a larger aircraft for when they travel with the family or a larger entourage," adds Gaona.
Bathroom on the Comlux Airbus ACJ 319: "Some of the people that fly in these large corporate jets may own already a smaller aircraft for their solo business trips, but may buy or rent a larger aircraft for when they travel with the family or a larger entourage," adds Gaona.
courtesy Airbus
<strong>Lounge on an Airbus ACJ 350: </strong>"This market is all about emotion. It is not unusual for a client to call you in the middle of the night to discuss this or that detail of his aircraft decor," says Richard Gaona, who before becoming CEO of Comlux was head of Airbus Corporate Jets.
Lounge on an Airbus ACJ 350: "This market is all about emotion. It is not unusual for a client to call you in the middle of the night to discuss this or that detail of his aircraft decor," says Richard Gaona, who before becoming CEO of Comlux was head of Airbus Corporate Jets.
courtesy Airbus
<strong>Comlux A330 VIP:</strong> This is the bedroom of the Comlux A330 VIP, a $200 million flying palace.
Comlux A330 VIP —
Comlux A330 VIP: This is the bedroom of the Comlux A330 VIP, a $200 million flying palace.
Courtesy Comlux
<strong>ACJ 330:</strong> Comlux's A330 represents the state-of-the-art when it comes to luxury aircraft cabin design.
ACJ 330: Comlux's A330 represents the state-of-the-art when it comes to luxury aircraft cabin design.
Courtesy Comlux
<strong>Dining area and living area: </strong>Whereas an airline would look first of all at the economics of an aircraft and its operational efficiency, private clients tend to be more interested in raw performance.
Dining area and living area —
Dining area and living area: Whereas an airline would look first of all at the economics of an aircraft and its operational efficiency, private clients tend to be more interested in raw performance.
Courtesy Comlux
<strong>Interior of Comlux's ACJ 330: </strong>"For our clients it is range and capacity that matter," says David Velupillai, head of marketing for Airbus Corporate Jets. "Heads of state, for example, value the capacity to travel to distant countries without being forced to stop over along the way."
Interior of Comlux's ACJ 330: "For our clients it is range and capacity that matter," says David Velupillai, head of marketing for Airbus Corporate Jets. "Heads of state, for example, value the capacity to travel to distant countries without being forced to stop over along the way."
Courtesy Comlux
<strong>Boeing Business Jet 787: </strong>Boeing's family of VIP airliners is called Boeing Business Jet (BBJ). American firm Kestrel Aviation Management was the first to customize a Boeing 787 (pictured).
Boeing Business Jet 787: Boeing's family of VIP airliners is called Boeing Business Jet (BBJ). American firm Kestrel Aviation Management was the first to customize a Boeing 787 (pictured).
courtesy Kestrel Aviation management
<strong>Cabin interior: </strong>The most eye-catching element of any VIP aircraft is the cabin interior. It's not unusual for the buyer of a corporate aircraft to spend as much, if not more, on the personalization of its interiors as on the aircraft itself.
Cabin interior: The most eye-catching element of any VIP aircraft is the cabin interior. It's not unusual for the buyer of a corporate aircraft to spend as much, if not more, on the personalization of its interiors as on the aircraft itself.
courtesy Kestrel Aviation management
<strong>BBJ 787 -- neutral colors:</strong> David Velupillai, of Airbus, says that most aircraft owners opt for relatively neutral colors and decor. This helps maintain the aircraft's resale value.
BBJ 787 -- neutral colors: David Velupillai, of Airbus, says that most aircraft owners opt for relatively neutral colors and decor. This helps maintain the aircraft's resale value.
courtesy Kestrel Aviation management
<strong>Kestrel Aviation's BBJ 787:</strong> "Many of our clients are not really looking for the exotic," says Velupillai. "They are extremely busy people and what they value is the possibility of carrying on with their lifestyles while on the move -- most of our aircraft have a dual home/office use."
Kestrel Aviation's BBJ 787: "Many of our clients are not really looking for the exotic," says Velupillai. "They are extremely busy people and what they value is the possibility of carrying on with their lifestyles while on the move -- most of our aircraft have a dual home/office use."
courtesy Kestrel Aviation management
<strong>Masterjet Airbus ACJ 320: </strong>Masterjet is a European private aviation company. This is the bathroom on board an Airbus ACJ 320.
Masterjet Airbus ACJ 320: Masterjet is a European private aviation company. This is the bathroom on board an Airbus ACJ 320.
courtesy Airbus
<strong>Masterjet Airbus ACJ 320: </strong>There are currently some 300 converted VIP-configured airliners flying around the globe. Some belong to governments, some to large corporations and some to private individuals.
Masterjet Airbus ACJ 320: There are currently some 300 converted VIP-configured airliners flying around the globe. Some belong to governments, some to large corporations and some to private individuals.
courtesy Airbus
<strong>Emirates Executive Airbus ACJ 319:</strong> Europe and North America have become relatively less attractive markets for VIP airliners in recent years. "We expect most of the growth to come from Asia, Africa and the Middle East," says Comlux's Gaona.
Emirates Executive Airbus ACJ 319: Europe and North America have become relatively less attractive markets for VIP airliners in recent years. "We expect most of the growth to come from Asia, Africa and the Middle East," says Comlux's Gaona.
courtesy Airbus
<strong>Comlux Boeing Business Jet: </strong>This Boeing Business Jet was customized by Comlux for the Asia market.
Comlux Boeing Business Jet: This Boeing Business Jet was customized by Comlux for the Asia market.
Courtesy Comlux