The shift in the demand of luxury planes recently has changed the aviation market. While second hand luxury planes are being given all the love, brand new luxury planes are not behind. The first Global 7500 corporate jet by Canada’s Bombardier Inc is all set to blaze the market.
Challenging the only top end plane G650 by Gulfstream, Bombardier Inc’s plane is premiering a full-sized bed and an optional en-suite shower, and is priced at $73 million. What was once only a converted aircraft’s makeover, is now a new plane’s reality.
Looking at the demands of wealthy travelers, jets are being given all the necessary hotel-styled features giving them a unique and personalized feel. Manufacturers are procuring lighter materials to make cabin spaces more luxurious and keep the plane’s range and performance up to the mark.
Rolland Vincent, a consultant and founder of business aviation forecasting service JetNet, said, “With no direct in-production competitor in this segment, Gulfstream has had quite a run at the top of the market.”
Manufacturers are not only paying attention to detail on the inside, but also not compromising when it comes to technology. Comparing the ruler of the high-end luxury planes since 2012, the Gulfstream G650 with Bombardier’s Global 7500, both these machines have the capability to connect far-flung cities like New York and Tokyo while just flying under the speed of light. However, Bombardier claims that the Global 7500, the corporate jet not transformed from an airliner, is the first ever to provide a bed not converted from a sofa onboard. “It’s really a battle of superlatives,” Vincent added.
With the sale of its Global 7500 and other new jets, the Global 6500 and 5500, coming into service next year, Bombardier is looking forward to boost its business and reach a revenue of about $8.5 billion by 2020 from $5 billion in 2018.
The company is also developing a convertible chaise lounge that passengers can use as a bench, a reclining chair or a lie-flat mattress for the 6500, along with other new features. “We wanted it to look like the type of furniture you’d have at home,” said Tim Fagan, manager, industrial design, at Bombardier Business Aircraft.
Sold out until 2021, with 19 deliveries for 2019 and 39 for 2020, Bomardier plans to increase its production, according to data provided by JetNet. Gulfstream also, is expected to deliver 55 G650 family jets in 2019 and 50 in 2020.
Amongst many of the Global 7500 customers, one said the jet’s separate space for sleeping was an important factor for him to purchase the plane.
Thomas Flohr, founder of business aviation company VistaJet, said, “In such long-range, high-speed aircraft, you must have a proper stateroom allowing you to get some good, comfortable sleep. The ability to rest undisturbed and comfortable, in a private space, is – for many – a higher priority than indulging in champagne and caviar”.
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