ACJ380: not quite a party palace

In 2006, around the time the Airbus A380 was preparing to enter service, a friend and I speculated about how we  would furnish an A380 private jet if, by chance, one us received a staggering windfall.

Guests would enter a large hall on the first deck where they would be entertained by bands such as U2 and The Police (hey, money is no object here). The after parts of the lower deck would be taken up by a swanky bar, a night club (with hot tub), and a chill out lounge.

The upper deck would be occupied by private luxury apartments. Guests on the main deck would live in hope of receiving an invite to enjoy the varied wonders of the upper deck.  

Anything bearing even the slightest resemblance to an economy class seat would be most strictly banned.

Though staid private jet salesmen bristle at the stereotype of private jet users as playboys and rock stars, and prefer to call their aircraft 'business tools', our private A380 would be about babes, bling, and booze.

Over drinks at an air show last year I asked a representative of Airbus Corporate Jets how customers might configure their personal ACJ380. He told me that clients in the Middle East (probably the only part of the world where there is enough personal wealth for ACJ380s) tend to focus on carrying people. VIPs from this part of he world have vast entourages who are inevitably accompanied by a legion of maids and other aides.

On a disc Airbus passed me at the Singapore Airshow, there were a few images of a proposed ACJ380 interior. There is plenty of room for friends, but it is not exactly a party palace. That said, I expect my friends would still be impressed if I were to fly them around in one of these ultimate private jets.