The $300 Million Private Jet (Whirlpool Not Included)

Travel Blog  •  Michael Yessis  •  02.20.07 | 9:30 AM ET

An individual buyer has signed a letter of intent to purchase an Airbus A380 for private use, according to the Wall Street Journal. The world’s largest commercial plane can be configured to carry 853 passengers, or, if you’re an unnamed Middle Eastern head of state who wants it for his own personal use, it can contain two dining areas, a 600-plus-square-foot master bedroom, a whirlpool tub, a missile-defense system and other amenities. The extra cost: up to $150 million.

The buyer of “The Flying Palace” has raised the bar on the private jumbo jet trend:

With some 10,000 private jets flying in the U.S., a few billionaires are signing up for something roomier—jumbo jets that can be outfitted as mobile mansions. Boeing says it has taken orders for 11 wide-bodies—planes typically configured with two aisles, such as the 747 series or the new 787 Dreamliner—over the past two years for “VIP use.”

There’s a rub, though. The jets are so big, the Journal reports, “they’re too big to land at many of the world’s high-end jet ports, including Nice, France; Aspen, Colo.; and New Jersey’s Teterboro.”

When asked if an A380 could fly into Aspen, Airbus’s chief commercial officer for customers John Leahy said: “Only once.”

Related on World Hum:
* The Airbus A380: “The Mother Load”
* Airbus A380 Makes North American Debut

Tags: Air Travel, News and Briefs


3 Comments for The $300 Million Private Jet (Whirlpool Not Included)

Private Jets 02.20.07 | 9:46 PM ET

The private jet business continues to grow at a rapid pace, over 15% per year over the past few years. I would expect the A380, like all other wide body jets to become equally successful in tis VIP market. There is strong demand for the BBJ, Boeing’s VIP version of the 757.

TambourineMan 02.20.07 | 11:26 PM ET

“unnamed Middle Eastern head of state.”
Wonder if it’s Dubya’s old crony, the diabolical Prince Bandar. Maybe he wants to one-up Air Force One.

icepacalapse 03.16.07 | 4:40 PM ET

It has to be prince bandar as he’s relegated his former a340 to his sister so she doesn’t have to slum in her 727 any more.

I’ve serviced his plane plenty of times.

He loves the dallas cowboys and america.

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