Transforming an A330 into a yacht-like luxury experience

The fact that the rich go to great lengths to adjust their privates planes in their way of life is nothing new. And we’re not just talking about the average business jet.

For decades, the world leadersthe kings and the billionaires (such as the centibillionaires whose fortune exceeds 100 billion dollars) are turning the types of aircraft most of us fly into commercial planes—made by companies like Airbus and the Boeing– in private, luxury vehicles, which not only function as means of transport, but also as “headquarters” for planning their next movements, and also luxury accommodation, in several of the cases.

The plane that looks like a yacht

Among the leaders, then, in the game of turning commercial vessels into flying “palaces” is the German Lufthansa Technikwhich recently developed a luxury interior cabin concept inspired by another must-have item for this world’s rich—the superyacht.

According to the company, the cabin concept VIP EXPLORER based on the current trend for superyachts which fulfill two wishes of their owners: To transport them almost anywhere at any time and serve them at their destination as an individual five-star hotel and base camp for a wide variety of leisure activities and excursions.

The Lufthansa Technik team, therefore, according to the CNN Travelselect it Airbus A330 to showcase the concept and published a series of illustrations showing its potential.

These include, in addition to the classic elements such as private bedrooms, bathrooms and conference areas, a variety of new ideas for office, dining, outdoor fitness areas and even a dance floor and one SPA area. In addition, one can take all the special equipment with them regardless of whether it is a car, off-road vehicle, wine cellar, research lab or even a medical emergency room – or anything else one can dream up.

But the highlight is undoubtedly the folding veranda -a floor in the forward fuselage area that can be extended outwards when the aircraft is parked, at a height of about four meters above the airport runway.

In second place is one integrated large-scale display system for virtual content. It stretches from the window zone, reaching up to the ceiling, with customers able to choose their own lighting and images, using a high-tech projection system to create scenes like green forests and starry skies.

The BRABUS adventure saloon

In partnership with the world-renowned luxury mobility brand BRABUSa special has been designed Adventure Lounge at the rear of the lower deck, which can already be viewed from the main deck through a glass floor. Vehicles can be stored here for discovery tours after landing, while passengers can easily access the BRABUS Adventure Lounge from the main deck via a staircase.

The EXPLORER design also includes the first and strictly limited BRABUS motorcycle, the BRABUS 1300Rwhich was created in collaboration with the leading Austrian motorcycle experts KTM.

Wieland Timm, head of sales for VIP and special mission aircraft at Lufthansa Technik, told CNN Travel that the lounge presents only “a striking example of what this aspect of exploration could look like” in flight.

“Luxury motorcycles are placed exclusively on the accessible lower deck,” he explains. “Once they land, they can disembark and give passengers the freedom to explore their current destination in more detail.”

As for why Lufthansa Technik chose the A330 for the EXPLORER concept, Timm says that this classic wide-body aircraft “offers sufficient space for a large number of new cabin ideas and also sufficient range to satisfy the particular wishes of the EXPLORER target group».

However, he notes that an EXPLORER-style interior could also be installed on other wide-body aircraft, such as the Boeing 777.

To whom is such a project addressed?

Timm says that the target group of this particular project consists of “the rather ‘classic’ ultra-rich people who travel and explore the world in absolute luxury and – mostly – privacy, but also the charter operators of such high-end luxury trips (offering, for example, 14-day trips around the world at prices from 100,000 to 200,000 dollars per week)’.

He says they also expect some owners to take a hybrid approach. “For example, a wealthy individual who owns an EXPLORER aircraft but only uses it for one month of the year. The rest of the year, that person will also charter it to other operators/users.’

So far, the response has been overwhelmingly positive, he notes, explaining that inquiries have already been submitted from customers who wish to implement one or more of EXPLORER’s technical gadgets on their current or future private jets.

He notes that it’s unlikely an airplane owner would take on the entire concept in its entirety, but since it’s technically feasible, the cabin could be produced as shown. On the contrary, customers are likely to adapt some elements of the design according to their own needs.

“The simple reason is that the VIP Completions business, especially for widebody aircraft, is highly customized to meet the owner’s personal needs… The vast majority of aircraft we complete for our customers are thus truly unique.”

How close is it to the superyacht experience?

Since superyachts have much more freedom in terms of mooring and mobility, Timm also answered about how common it is for owners to spend the night in their plane while it is on the ground of an airport.

“Some of our customers are already using this,” he adds. “The reasons are various and have to do with the fact that these customers often use the aircraft also as their office space and thus receive their partners on site.”

“Others prefer to stay on the plane at night for safety reasons. In the described EXPLORER use case, however, the airport acts as a base and starting point for further adventures/explorations.’