L A R G E J E T S When an aircraft is modified
from carrying 150
passengers or more, to
just a handful of VVIP
passengers, in many ways
it represents a zenith
for air travel. Airbus and Boeing are committed to serving
the needs of ultra high-net-worth individuals (UHNWIs),
governments, heads of state and corporate clients with
their large business jets. The high-end competition that they
provide suits a luxury sector that requires products that
strive to be peerless and perfect.
The private jet marketplace is dominated by smaller
aircraft, but so-called bizliners offer something more.
They are built from proven and robust commercial aircraft
platforms with service and support provisions that are more
substantial and global. With much more space available
for facilities and comforts it’s a case of the sky being the
customizable limit. Most bizliners have a private bedroom
with a fixed double bed, full bathroom and shower, plus
conference, dining and lounge areas to finish. If someone
wants something more they can probably have it.
Physical limitations
The design and fit out of a bizliner may represent the
opportunity to select from a plethora of configurable options,
but there are still compromises to consider. Julian Burrell,
chairman of charter company Vertis Aviation, says, “Bizliners
are attractive for long haul, up to 13 hours flying in some
cases with auxiliary fuel tanks. You can take 25 pieces on
to a bizliner, but up to 100 pieces with fewer auxiliary tanks
on board.”
In terms of the bizliner marketplace,
Mohammed Husary, founder and
executive president of UAS
International Trip Support says,
“There is demand from a niche
market made up of certain
clients, especially royal families
in the Middle East.”
On the other hand, there is
also volatility from the charter
end of the market. Vertis says
that it has seen a moderate
drop in demand over the
past year. “The chief clientele
are UHNWI and governments
Boeing business jets
Boeing currently has 214 BBJs in service. These aircraft
extend from the 737 through to the 747. Wide body
aircraft; BBJ777, 777X and 787 are manufactured at the
Boeing twin-aisle facility in Everett, while the BBJ737
MAX is manufactured at the company’s single-aisle
facility in Renton, Washington.
Explaining the manufacturing process, Alexis Fecteau,
marketing director, Boeing Business Jets, says, “The
BBJ exits the factory fully loaded with virtually every
imaginable airplane avionics option for all-weather,
oceanic and international operations with low-cabinaltitude
for comfort and more features that our most
discriminating buyers desire.”
At this point the BBJ is termed green because of the
green anti-corrosion exterior prior to paint, with all
aircraft features on board, but not yet the VIP interior.
Long-range fuel tanks are then installed to give each
aircraft intercontinental range.
“The BBJ VIP interior is then installed by one of our
partner-completion centers, overseen by Boeing
Business Jets. The completion centers are experts
in every detail of VVIP interior design, materials,
and further cabin comfort feature installation,”
says Fecteau.
“Importantly for their operational
requirements, BBJs have integrated airstairs, which
allow flexible operation into smaller airports. Finally, the
airplane is delivered to the customer, ready to fly.”
However, many private buyers prefer to receive
their BBJ after the fuel tank installation and before
installation of the interior, so they personalize
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it with a designer of their choice at a
completion center of their choosing.
“We adapt our
capabilities to the
aircraft. The service
levels are as high as they
would be for a smaller
VIP aircraft”
Fiona Langton, managing director, Stobart Jet
Centre at London Southend Airport