MEBA2012: VIP Dreamliner designers can now get to work

Captain Steve Taylor, president BBJ, said: “We have sold 12 as private aircraft, with the first expected to be delivered a year from now. There will be more in 2014. We have customers and completion centres working on them now.”

 

Completion centres and designers have been anxiously awaiting the technical details and load information for the aircraft to ensure that the designs will work. Boeing believes that the VIP Dreamliner will be a great hit once the deliveries are made.

 

Meanwhile, the company is cementing its wide-body position with leaders in the Middle East with the delivery of two BBJ 747-8s to head-of-state customers in Kuwait and Qatar.

 

The Middle East is the dominant market for the 747-8s, with eight of the nine ordered to date being for customers in the region and accounting for 30% of BBJs entire portfolio.

 

Taylor said: “Despite the global economic downturn, the Middle East region remains a very strong market for both single-aisle and twin-aisle VIP airplanes.

 

“Historically, the 747 market has been for head-of-state customers, as the aircraft offers lots of space and different class configurations.

 

However, while heads of state are the bulk of the market, Taylor did confirm that the company has a few private clients.

 

The first BBJ 777-200LR for a head of state has recently entered service with a customer in the Middle East. With a range capability of more than 10,000nm it is the longest-range business jet in the world.