There’s no denying that flying whether it’s commercial, business or first, can be a chore. From queues and delays to the ever-growing list of restrictions it can be an exhausting and frustrating experience and when you're travelling for business purposes this is the last thing you need.
Over the past 10 years, there’s been a discernible increase in private jet ownership and while jet ownership doesn’t come cheap for cash-rich, time-poor business travelers looking to skip airport queues, conduct meetings in the air, and flying at a moment’s notice, a private jet could be a worthwhile investment.
Here showcase five of the largest, fastest and most luxurious private planes on the market right now.
AIRBUS ACJ319NEO INFINITO
Gives wings to Italian style and elegance! Airbus Corporate Jets and the Italian hyper-car Atelier Pagani Automobili have unveiled a new cabin design for the ACJ319neo, called Infinito, which means infinity in Italian.
A key feature of the Infinito cabin is its sky ceiling, which can bring a live view of the sky above the aircraft into the cabin – or display other images. Décor is reminiscent of that gracing Pagani hypercars, with natural soft-leather carpets and a wooden floor contrasting with man-made carbonfibre in furniture and wall-frames - echoing the combination of art and science originally espoused by Leonardo da Vinci. Sculpted metal features, mirroring those found in Pagani hypercars, feature in light-fittings and other details, while light-emitting diodes (LEDs) enable different mood-lighting ambiances.
Airbus offers the most complete range of business jets, derived from the world’s most modern aircraft family. This includes the new ACJ319neo, which will fly eight passengers 6,750 nm/12,500 km or 15 hours, the ACJ320neo which will transport 25 passengers 6,000 nm/11,100 km, or 13 hours, and the ACJ350 XWB which will carry 25 passengers 10,800 nm/20,000 km or 22 hours in its ultra-long range version.
Priced from: POA
CESSNA CITATION LONGITUDE
The big brother to the hugely popular Citation Latitude, the Citation Longitude is the jet of choice for anyone looking to stay ahead of the curve. With a range of 4000nm and a cruising speed of Mach .86 at 45,000ft, the Citation Longitude is Cessna’s first super-midsize private jet, featuring Garmin’s latest G5000 flight deck avionics
Seating is for 12 in a wide cabin that allows full height headroom and a walk-in baggage compartment accessible during flight. State-of-the-art tech also allows passengers to control their environment and entertainment with any mobile device using a special app while high-speed internet comes as standard.
Priced from: $23.9 million
DASSAULT AVIATION FALCON 6X
Not only has Dassault Aviation redefined the private jet travel experience. It has created a new category: the ultra widebody business jet.
A few inches can make a big difference in your overall comfort so cabin height in the Falcon 6X is 6-feet, 6-inches, the tallest in business aviation. The 102-inch-wide cross section – also the largest on the market – gives you more elbow room, more aisle space, a larger galley and deeper, more comfortable divans. There's more space for individual seating, and greater privacy when desired, especially in the aft cabin during overnight flights. The wider aisle allows for easier movement between cabin lounges ideal if the jet is carrying its full occupancy of 16 passengers.
The 6X’s maximum range is 5,500 nm (10,186 km), with a maximum speed is Mach .90. It is capable of flying at Mach .85 for non-stop flights up to 5,100 nm (9,445 km), including Moscow to New York, Paris to Beijing, Los Angeles to London.
In addition, the 6X is very stable at the speeds and angles required at smaller airstrips, making take offs and landings safer and quicker. And as a final extra the Falcon 6X also has the first ever skylight in a business aircraft, providing valuable light to normally dark entrance and galley areas.
Priced from $47 million
BOMBARDIER GLOBAL 8000
Bombardier Global 8000 business jet has an unparalleled combination of cabin comfort and range capability. With a maximum range of 7,900nm and top speed of Mach 0.925, the possibilities aboard the Global 8000 are virtually endless. Able to accomplish long hauls around the world, the 102-foot-long jet is capable of taking off at a distance of 5,800 feet.
Newly designed high speed transonic wings create and enhance steep approach capabilities and short field performance on runways.
At a total cabin volume of 2,236 cubic feet, the Global 8000 features a smaller cabin than that of the Global 7000. However, sizable windows, a three zone cabin design, and 195 cubic feet of baggage compartment volume make up for this. Standard configuration allows 13 passengers to be seated comfortably while two to four crew members have a dedicated crew rest area near the entry.
As the first aircraft to be powered by General Electric's new Passport turbofan engine, the Global 7000 will have a range of 7,400 - enough to fly non-stop from London to Singapore - with low fuel burns and low emissions.
Priced from: $65 million
GULFSTREAM G550
Powered by two Rolls-Royce engines that provide the most thrust of any jet in its class, the Gulfstream’s G550 is the world’s top selling inter-continental business jet.
With a top speed of 679mph and a cruising altitude of 51,000 feet the Gulfstream G550 has a cruise range of 6,750 nautical miles /12,501 kilometres meaning the G550 can fly from Shanghai to Los Angeles or New York to Dubai nonstop at Mach 0.80. London to Tokyo or to Los Angeles is nonstop at Mach 0.85 moreover the G550 is capable of operating out of short-field, high-altitude airports great for its 19 passengers.
Some layouts accommodate beds for eight people, and the option of up to four distinct living areas creates a combination of uses, including a dedicated crew rest area, a private stateroom, conference area and entertainment space.
The G550 also provides the option of locating the full-size galley forward or aft―the only aircraft in its class to offer such flexibility
Priced from: $53 million
