Summary Lufthansa Technik excels in VVIP airliner conversions beyond airline maintenance. They recently won an award just for that. Private jet customization offers limitless luxury and creativity at a high cost of at least 51M$ for a 777X The BBJ77X won't be available for a while; in the meantime, note that Boeing offers a range of private jets, promising unmatched elegance and performance, with operators worldwide offering experiences.
The Boeing 777 is one of the most popular wide-bodied aircraft ever made. Since its first flight in 1994, it has amassed some 1,734 deliveries, and with the newer 777X in the process of being certified and deliveries starting shortly after that, this number is set to grow. Most airframes have joined or will join the fleet of major airlines like Emirates or Singapore Airlines, but some, like the one we will discuss today, are destined for private individuals and heads of state—let's take a deep dive.
Lufthansa Technik: Not only for commercial planes To most of our readers, LH Technik is known as the maintenance division of Germany's flag carrier Lufthansa, and this would be correct as it is the core of their activities—it maintains the fleet of the whole LH Group, ranging from the Boeing 777 in Austrian's fleet to Lufthansa's unique 747-8i. Through this activity, the subsidiary has gained a lot of expertise in fitting cabins. Every time a plane passes a D-Check, everything, including the seats, must be removed, inspected, and reinstalled.
So, using reverse engineering, the company's engineers figured out they could help design and install new products onboard. This applies to private jets like the German government's fleet of A350s, which they converted to VIP usage. An award-winning conversion With the brand-new 777X coming live very soon, the German MRO company developed a new concept based on the 777-9 for the upcoming BBJ777X.
In a recent statement, Lufthansa Technik indicated it has won two prestigious Red Dot Design Awards for its outstanding product designs. The "Omni-Fi" sound experience is among the "Best of the Best: Design Concept" category winners. The VIP design concept "CelestialSTAR" for the BBJ 777-9 was awarded in "Product Design" in this year's design competition.
The official award ceremony will be held in Singapore in October. Key features of the proposed interior Sound The interior proposed by Lufthansa Technik during the Red Dot Awards in Singapore this year features a unique sound system with the latest development of Omni-Fi speakers. It introduces a fully immersive sound experience.
This is made possible through exclusively licensed Ring-mode Converter/Transducer technology, which allows for a sleek design without compromising sound quality due to optimal omnidirectional dispersion. As a result, Omni-Fi speakers enable an immersive listening experience while offering cabin designers new degrees of freedom, thanks to their installation depth of less than 20 millimeters and a weight of less than 300 grams (<0.6lb).
Additionally, according to Lufthansa Technik, Omni-Fi speakers provide weight savings of up to 50% compared to traditionally implemented cabin speaker systems. Interior design The second noteworthy aspect of Lufthansa Technik's proposed cabin is the current furnishings available. It is called CelestialSTAR .
The contestant has prioritized modularity in the design. The back of the cabin has been specifically tailored to provide stylish and convenient transport for official delegations, catering to their needs during official missions. A unique light and window shade concept has been incorporated throughout the cabin to create an environment that gives passengers the sensation of being in their personal living space rather than aboard an aircraft at 30,000 feet.
This is particularly important because this jet is designed for ultra-long-haul flights. Overall cabin plan Overall, the proposed interior by the German MRO company is primarily designed for heads of state; there is, therefore, a dedicated VVIP section located at the front of the aircraft with a permanently fixed bed and a shower - followed behind it by their office where they can run the country from the air. There's also a boardroom for the country's cabinet, and behind that is the accommodation for the details and media, for example.
The design makes efficient use of the aircraft's size to offer the height of luxury. Configuring a VVIP cabin There is no "one size fits all" in terms of VVIP airliner conversions, unlike conventional private jets like the G700 or G800, which, in terms of range, can somewhat compete with the 777X because they are delivered "green." This effectively means that the aircraft is finished without an interior; from the inside, the only thing you would see is the green color of the aircraft's primer, hence the name "green.
" The customer would then send the aircraft to outfitters like the one mentioned in our article to get any modifications done. This gives the owner the flexibility and creativity to put virtually what they want inside. However, private jet conversions come at a hefty cost; according to executive jet interior designer Alexander Craker , it can cost anywhere from $51M$ to $121M$, depending on the type of private jet conversion.
Private jets on Boeing's catalog Boeing's BBJ777X is the most luxurious private jet currently offered, but the Seattle manufacturer also sells other jets. Let's take a look. • The BBJ737 MAX: Three models are available: the -7, -8, and -9.
The price varies depending on the selected variant, ranging from $101M for the 737-7 to $118M for the most significant variant, the -9. • The BBJ787: With 25 passengers onboard, the aircraft can cover 9,945 nautical miles. This extensive range enables the aircraft to travel between almost any two cities worldwide without a fuel stop.
Other historic aircraft are available to convert to business jets from their former lineup, from the 747-8 intercontinental , which is currently being restored to become the next Air Force One , to the 757, which was converted into a VVIP aircraft by former US president Donald Trump for example. Trump's private aircraft is a custom Boeing 757 private jet. Which operators have BBJs in their fleet Should you want to try out the BBJ777X, you may have to wait a few years for the backlog to clear, but in the meantime, there are options to fly on charter operators who own Boeing Business Jets.
Here are a few examples • Royal Jet: The UAE-based charter carrier offers a choice of multiple BBJ 737s to fly. • Global Jet: The private jet management company operates two Luxembourg-registered BBJ737s, one BBJ1 and one BBJ3 registered LX-LFX and LX-DIO, respectively • Air X Charter: The malta based charter company also has a BBJ1 registered 9H-ELF Of course, this isn't an exhaustive list; many more BBJ operators worldwide exist. Comlux Aviation has a fleet of 13 aircraft going from light jets all the way up to VVIP airliners.
Setting industry standards Lufthansa Technik showcases its versatility beyond airline maintenance, delving into the luxurious world of VVIP airliner conversions and recently winning an award for CelestialSTAR on the BBJ 777-9. Private jet customization allows for limitless creativity and luxury, though at a significant cost. Meanwhile, Boeing continues to cater to this exclusive market with its range of private jets, promising unmatched elegance and performance.
As the Boeing Business Jet market thrives, operators worldwide offer opportunities to experience these flying palaces, indicating a prosperous future for manufacturers and outfitters in this niche sector..
