The 'flying castles' of the super rich

Inside an Airbus 330 VIP is a classic luxury bedroom, with a king-sized bed, designer furniture, champagne and breathtaking views like a 5-star hotel.

The jet is being refitted by Comlux, a Swiss company that designs luxury aircraft. It reflects the growing demand for luxury living among the super-rich.

Over the past two decades, the number of billionaires in the world has increased, opening up a new and potential market for luxury jets. To serve this market, aircraft manufacturers have established divisions specializing in developing VIP versions of their best-selling aircraft models, such as Boeing's Boeing Business Jet (BBJ) or Airbus's Airbus Corporate Jet (ACJ).

Customers have a wide range of aircraft to choose from, such as the Airbus A320 or Boeing 737. Those with more money can book larger sizes, such as the Boeing 747 and Airbus A340, or the latest models such as the Boeing 787 and Airbus A350.

Inside an Emirates Airbus ACJ 319. Photo: Airbus

There are about 300 VIP charters in the world today. Some are owned by governments to transport heads of state. The rest belong to large corporations or the super-rich.

While the airframe is similar to that of a commercial airliner, the luxury jet market has entirely different standards. While an airline considers economy and efficiency, private customers are more concerned with comfort and convenience while flying.

For example, the A330 upgraded by Comlux can carry up to 60 people and fly for 17 hours without refueling. "Our customers focus on capacity and range. For example, heads of state want to be able to fly to another country without stopping in the middle."

The redesigned bedroom on the A330. Photo: Airbus

Interior is also an indispensable factor for a VIP jet. Many customers do not hesitate to spend a lot of money to have the interior designed to their liking.

Designing and upgrading aircraft interiors is a complex task, and only a handful of companies in the world have the expertise to do it. The end result must not only satisfy the customer, but also comply with aircraft structure and safety regulations.

For example, the Boeing 787 and the VIP version of the A350 use composite materials, which make the aircraft lighter than traditional steel structures. But it also requires more sophisticated processing and upgrading methods.

But do all private jets have to be unique? David Velupillai, an expert at Airbus, says most of the super-rich prefer neutral designs to maintain resale value. “They are very busy and just need a private jet with an office design so that work is not interrupted when traveling,” he says.

The furnishings on these private jets are often not what they appear on the outside. Furniture can be made from lightweight materials and covered with wood to reduce weight.

However, this does not mean that luxury jets lose their class. Some are even decorated with 200-300 kg of pure gold.

Any luxury private jet is equipped with high-quality entertainment systems and Internet connections. Richard Gaona, an expert at Comlux, said his company also installed a humidification system on the plane to make passengers feel more relaxed when flying.

"The luxury jet market is small but highly profitable, as there are no discounts for bulk purchases like airlines. It's also a marketing opportunity, as luxury products often attract a lot of public attention," said Adam Twidell, CEO of private jet brokerage PrivateFly.

According to VNE