Aircraft

German business aircraft interiors completion specialist Lufthansa Technik has put together a complete computer aided animation video sequence of what it believes the first private jet made from the giant Airbus A380 will look like.

The company's VIP and Executive Jet Solutions division, used to modifying large cabin aircraft such as the Boeing 747 for heads of state and high net worth individuals, wants to become the first aircraft interiors specialist to produce a VIP version of the two-storey aircraft. The video (shown below),  produced as a sales tool for potential clients, shows an aircraft featuring several relaxation areas, bedrooms, offices and general seating for entourage.

The market for such VVIP aircraft is limited to several dozen people, with a higher proportion based in the Gulf region. Lufthansa Technik has hinted previously that it expects an order for a VVIP A380 to be placed before the end of the year.

It is possible that an existing airline order could be given up by an airline customer or converted into a head of state private jet, to allow a VIP to jump the queue in the long wait for available delivery slots of an A380 from Airbus in Toulouse. Dubai-based Emirates is one of the launch customers for the -800 passenger version of the A380 and there has been speculation that one of its order for 43 could be passed on to the United Arab Emirates' ruling family.

Last month's orderbook figures from Airbus rival Boeing showed an unspecified order for the new 747 model, the 747-8 Intercontinental, fuelling speculation that the launch customer for the new jumbo could also be a private customer.