Boeing BBJ 787: Buyer’s and Investor’s Guide

Pros

Being able to fly anywhere in the world without needing to refuel whilst traveling in pure luxury.

Cons

The aircraft is big and heavy, restricting its access to smaller airports.

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Flying

The 787 has the one of the largest ranges of any commercial aircraft – with the 787-9 being the first to fly between London and Australia non-stop.

The BBJ787 is equally as capable – and is able to fly 9,945nm with 25 passengers on board. With such a range, it is possible to fly between practically any two cities in the world without needing a fuel stop. Such extensive range is made possible thanks to the aircraft’s fuel efficiency – which also helps reduce operating costs over older large-cabin VVIP aircraft.

With 25 passengers on board, there is only a small proportion of the world you cannot reach without needing a fuel stop, as seen from New York (top), Hong Kong (middle) and Dubai (bottom).

A cruise speed of Mach 0.85 allows for quick journeys. Although the BBJ787 is slightly slower than the largest traditional private jets such as the G650ER and Global 7000, on the longest of trips you will save time, due to the fact that you will not need to land and refuel.

The major drawback of using an aircraft of this size and weight is that it is unable to make use of smaller airports that might be to passengers’ final destinations. With a BBJ787, you will be limited to major commercial airports with the infrastructure to support the aircraft. Smaller and more convenient airports such as London City, Teterboro, Van Nuys or Aspen will all be unavailable to use.

Travelling

You buy a VVIP aircraft for an opulent and spacious cabin – and the BBJ787 does not disappoint.

The 18ft-wide cabin creates an extensive space for passengers to relax or work whilst also providing the space to hold a variety of different rooms.

A commercial 787 can seat up to 242 passengers – but BBJ variants are more likely to seat a maximum of 40 passengers.

When it comes to interiors, bizliners and traditional jets differ massively. OEMs of bizliners deliver a ‘green’ aircraft to a customer – meaning no interior has been fitted. The aircraft then goes to a completion centre, where the interior is designed and installed. Installing the interior alone can take up to two years. What this means is that there are no standard interior options or designs, and owners can really get as creative as they want.

Typical configurations will include a master bedroom, master bathroom, lounge and dining room as well as a guest cabin in larger VVIP jets.

The interior of Deer Jet’s BBJ787.

Additional interior features vary dramatically depending on what the owner wants; but showers, entertainment rooms, formal dining areas and Majlis are not uncommon.

Cabin noise is kept to a minimum, thanks to the vibration insulation in the cabin as well engine chevrons and a new fan-blade design – making the cabin a relaxing and comfortable space.

Most commercial aircrafts’ cabins are pressurised to 9,000ft – but the BBJ787 has a cabin altitude of just 6,000ft. This reduces the impact of jetlag and fatigue for passengers – meaning they can arrive at their destination more refreshed.

Owning

List price for a new Boeing 787-8 is $239 million – although buyer’s can usually negotiate significant discounts off this price. This is the cost to buy a ‘green’ aircraft.

Designing, manufacturing and installing a bespoke interior for an aircraft of this size can cost anywhere between $15 million and $60 million, depending on what configuration, features and materials are chosen.

According to Boeing, as of March 2018 there have been 15 orders for the BBJ787, of which 12 have been delivered and four are in service.

The most prominent BBJ787 currently in service is owned and operated by Deer Jet, a charter and management company. The aircraft is based out of Dubai and is available to charter for $70,000 an hour.

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Hard Facts

Maximum range: 11,444 miles/ 18,418km /9,945nm
Maximum speed: 652mph/1,049kph/Mach 0.85
Typical passengers: 15
Typical crew: 6
List price for new aircraft: $239 million (excluding interior cost)
Pre-owned price: N/A

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