Flying on VistaJet’s Bombardier Global 7500.
Taylor Rains/Insider
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The Bombardier Global 7500 is the world’s largest and longest-ranged purpose-built private jet.
Private charter company VistaJet owns 15 of the type, making up the largest fleet of Global 7500s.
I flew on the luxurious plane from Miami to New Jersey to see how the ultra-wealthy travel.
VistaJet is the world’s largest private charter company, sporting the largest fleet of Bombardier Global 7500 aircraft.VistaJet’s 10th Bombardier Global 7500.
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The Global 7500 is the largest purpose-built private jet in existence and will cost buyers a whopping $75 million.Inside a Bombardier Global 7500 demonstration aircraft.
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Also being the world’s longest-ranged private aircraft, the jet can fly up to 14 hours across 7,700 nautical miles on routes like New York to Tel Aviv and Los Angeles to Sydney, per Bombardier.Inside a Bombardier Global 7500 demonstration aircraft.
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While it can’t quite break the speed of sound, the jet flies at .925 Mach and can fly between New York and Los Angeles in as little as three and a half hours.
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The plane was recently popularized by Louis Vuitton CEO Bernard Arnault when he sold it to avoid jet-tracking Twitter accounts.LVMH CEO Bernard Arnault on board his private jet between Beijing and Shanghai. in Shanghai, China on October 11, 2004.
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A handful of other high-profile people also own the jet, like Kylie Jenner and Australian billionaire Andrew Forest.Kylie Jenner.
Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
In March, VistaJet took on its 10th Global 7500 and has since received five more for a total of 15. Overall, the company has invested $4 billion in new planes, VistaJet US president Leona Qi told Insider.VistaJet CEO Thomas Flohr at the ribbon cutting ceremony in Montreal in March for the 10th Global 7500.
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The additions come as private aviation continues to boom post-pandemic, with Qi saying the company has seen a huge increase in demand, particularly to places like the Caribbean and Aspen.
Danielle Bauter
“The U.S. remains the company’s strongest and fastest-growing region,” she said. “In the last quarter alone, 70% of US hours sold were attributable to new VistaJet Program Members.”
Courtesy of VistaJet
But the luxury isn’t cheap. A VistaJet Global 7500 flight will run customers between $12,000 and $20,000 per hour, though the company doesn’t publish its rates.The cabin of the Bombardier Global 7500.
Bombardier
The ultra-wealthy opt for the convenience of flying private because they don’t have to clear security or traverse crowded airports as the aircraft typically depart out of fixed-based operators.FBOs, like Three Wing Aviation in Connecticut, are aircraft service stations that provide things like fueling, cleaning, and maintenance, with many offering free VIP amenities like food and coffee.
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While the lack of screening could seem concerning to some people, the Transportation Security Administration does not have as strict of oversight for private jets because “the passengers choose to travel together.”TSA Automated Screening Lanes at LAX.
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Source: TSA
“They may be related to one another in some way, such as being employed by the same company or on the same sports team, and so the risk that one passenger would endanger the others appeared to be low,” the agency said in a 2002 final rule.A TSA agent at LAX.
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Source: TSA
To see how the ultra-wealthy travel, I took a demo flight on VistaJet’s Global 7500 from Miami to New Jersey — here’s what it was like.Flying on VistaJet’s Bombardier Global 7500.
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I arrived at Signature Flight Support at 1 p.m. for a 1:30 p.m. departure. Media took a one-minute bus ride from curb to plane, and, as mentioned, I didn’t have to scan any luggage or walk through a metal detector.
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Once on the aircraft, I was immediately blown away by the size. I could see myself easily spending 14 hours onboard.
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Qi took us on a tour of the jet, saying the aircraft has an extra living section not available on competitor planes, like the Gulfstream 650ER.Interior of the Gulfstream G650ER.
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This makes the aircraft the largest of any business jet on the market. The four spaces include a meeting space, which has two sets of seats facing each other…
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…a six-person dining room…
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…a theater room that can double as a conference room…
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….and a master suite, complete with a double bed, lounger, and bookcase.
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Qi explained the design is VistaJet-specific, saying the flooring has been the same since the company’s founding 18 years ago.The dining table lowers and rises — pictured is in its standard position, the cabin hostess will raise it when customers are ready to eat.
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I loved the design of the interior. It was elegant, and easy on the eyes. I think the theater room and bedroom truly make the plane feel like home, which is one of the goals of VistaJet.
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In total, the plane can seat 14 people and sleep eight.
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There are five beds total, including three double beds — one each in the bedroom, theater/conference room, and dining area — and two singles made from converting the loungers in the front living space.The loungers convert into la=ie-flat beds.
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The single beds are similar to what is seen on other private jets, like a Gulfstream G280.
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To have eight people sleep, six travelers would have to be in couples or be family members. Otherwise, five people could sleep comfortably — one in each double bed and two in the singles.Pajamas are provided onboard.
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The seats and beds feature soft Egyptian cotton blankets and pillows, Qi told Insider.
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Shortly after boarding, we were given hot towels for our hands and glasses of champagne and fresh hors d’oeuvres, which were nice luxury touches.
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Venturing around the jet, I found that there was a lavatory in both the front and back of the plane…The forward lavatory. The aft one was nearly identical, but was slightly larger.
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…and a galley in the front, complete with glassware, a coffee maker, and convection ovens.The convection oven.
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This is where the cabin attendants prepare meals and drinks. The Global 7500 has the largest galley in private aviation, Qi said.
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There is also a crew rest couch located beside the galley that is large enough for three people to relax.
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VistaJet staffs all of its aircraft with cabin hostesses who must go through rigorous training to meet the standard of the company. One cabin hostess told Insider she loves the clients and destinations she flies to.One of the two cabin hostesses on our flight.
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The company also hires pilots with years of experience flying, ensuring a high standard of safety is maintained throughout the fleet.
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Two to three pilots will sit in the cockpit, which is complete with next-generation technology. The VistaJet pilots told Insider the layout was great for managing duties, particularly with the help of the large screens.
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Moreover, one pilot who used to fly commercially said flying private keeps the job interesting because he flies so many different routes: “I flew so many years of just back and forth with the airlines, which got boring.”
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Between it’s onboard staff and company employees, VistaJet has over 60 nationalities represented in its company, per Qi.VistaJet’s VP of private dining, Diego Sabino (pictured), is from Italy. Our pilots were from the Netherlands, while one cabin hostess was from Spain.
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VistaJet’s Global 7500 separates its living spaces with sliding doors, minus the meeting and dining room, with Qi telling Insider it is a big plus for clients because there can be three different meetings going on at once.The closes door leads to the far aft lavatory.
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Other amenities fit for royalty are power ports and WiFi…
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…adjustable windows…The window shades can fully open and close.
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…Bombardier’s signature Soleil mood lighting system and low altitude cabin pressure, which can help reduce jet lag…
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…fold out tables in front of the seats…One of the tables filled with champagne, flowers, and hors d’oeuvres.
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…and plenty of storage.
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Onboard, the media was treated to a delicious meal from Nobu, which is an award-winning restaurant with locations all over the world, including Miami.People waiting in line for Nobu in London.
Mark Robert Milan/Getty Images
We enjoyed dishes like sashimi salad…
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…prime beef tenderloin…
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…shrimp tempura, spicy tuna, and house special rolls…
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…the restaurant’s signature black cod with miso…
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…and special Nobu TK40 Sake.
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While we enjoyed sake and caviar, Qi said some customers just want simple things onboard, like KFC or Shake Shack, or need vegan options, and the company can cater that.One of the vegan meals: tofu steak.
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I loved the layout of the dining table. With enough space for six people to comfortably dine is a game changer for private aviation, and something that customers I’m sure will favor.A leaf connected the two sides to create one long table.
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Though, my only concern would be the leaf in the middle blocking access from the front of the jet to the back. Fortunately, there are bathrooms on each side, but it could be an inconvenience.
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After filling up on Nobu, we landed at Teterboro Airport in New Jersey, enjoying the views of the fall foliage as we flew over the Northeast.
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As expected, the flight was fantastic. The food was delicious and the service was exactly what I’d expect a private flight to be.
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I can easily see why deep-pocket travelers fork out tens of thousands of dollars for private jet charters, particularly the Global 7500 for its range and private bedroom.
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Read the original article on Business Insider
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