He revealed that when Boeing and General Electric became partners in 1996 to build business jets, it was thought corporations would be the primary buyers.  However, companies and charter operations now only represent 20% of the customers, with another 40% drawing from wealthy people and the final 40% coming from heads of state. Another interesting fact – most Boeing Business Jets (BBJs) are sold outside the United States.

Currently, about 150 737-based BBJ’s and nine 747-8 Intercontinentals are built and flying. According to Boeing, a completed 737 BBJ costs about $85 million while a 747-8 Intercontinental will set you back about a half billion dollars or more (and may include missle defense systems and secure data).

For this aircraft, Greenpoint partnered with design firm, Strack and Associates on the interior which showcases multiple rooms and is equipped with the latest in wireless technology. Odyssey Aerospace Components provided the cabinetry with inlays and cove ceilings. 

 Scott Goodey Greenpoint President and CEO said:

“We have a highly motivated group of professionals with unrelenting dedication to our customers. Five deliveries in the past five months show our ability to overcome obstacles and deliver on our promise.”

Next on Greenpoint’s agenda? A full VIP BBJ 747-8 completion starting this month.

Greenpoint has an exemplary 98.9% on-time delivery rate during its 25 years of private ownership.

Shane McGinley quotes Captain Steve Taylor, president, Boeing Business Jets, in the article for ArabianBusiness.com as saying:

“We have sold a dozen of them [Dreamliner 787s] as private airplanes as VIP customers. The very first deliveries are about a year from now [December 2012] and there are several deliveries spread through 2014.”

Captain Steve Taylor, president, Boeing Business Jets, said:

“Despite the global economic downturn, the Middle East region remains a very strong market for both single-aisle and twin-aisle VIP airplanes…Our customers want an aircraft capable of connecting virtually any two cities in the world nonstop.”

 According to Greenpoint, the Aeroloft® allows interior installations to occur at multiple qualified facilities. The first set of installations was performed at Boeing’s Wichita, KS facility, but the most recent customer chose to install the Aeroloft® at their facility.

Aeroloft™ Stair Installation

Aeroloft™ Hallway Facing Aft

           Greenpoint first announced the prototype program at the European Business Aviation Conference & Exhibition (EBACE) in 2009 and has worked with The Boeing Company for over a decade developing multiple solutions for VIP and Heads-of-State clients. The Aeroloft™ is Greenpoint’s latest innovation resulting from the companies’ collaboration.

Greenpoint CEO and President Scott Goodey said: 

“Our close relationship with Boeing allows us to develop state of the art solutions for our VIP customers by providing them with the best in luxury, utility, and safety. Our core business is designing and manufacturing unique interior solutions and the Aeroloft™ is a perfect example of engineering collaboration resulting from customer demand.”

 According to Greenpoint, the Aeroloft™ was developed specifically for the BBJ 747-8 and boasts eight private sleeping berths in the aft, upper section of the aircraft providing a comfortable rest area during flight.

       Aeroloft™ Sleeping Berth

“…the most extravagant of them all, a private Airbus A380, currently being constructed for a prince of the middle east. It is rumoured that the flying mansion boasts multiple bedrooms, a gymnasium, a sauna, a library and a garage customised to fit the prince’s two favourite Rolls Royce cars.”

Snobama goes on to mention:

“Another Arab prince I know travels in a fleet of three Boeing 747s. One for him and his close circle of friends, another for his staff and their families, with the third as a back-up in case one of the other two has a glitch.”

Snobama observes that people with old money ”don’t want a jumbo jet, but a big enough plane to fit their egos and indicate their status. So for these types, the aircraft of choice is normally the Boeing Business Jet (BBJ), or any one of the older Boeing aircraft.”

When the author asked one friend why he wanted his own plane, the reply was “You haven’t really arrived, till you’ve landed on board your own plane.”

Based in Saudi Arabia, SPA’s main market is the Middle East and they offer VIP aircraft chartering, aircraft management, consultation, and ground services. Their fleet includes the Dassault Falcon 7Xs business jet; the Boeing 747 and 777; Embraer 170; and the Airbus 320 and 330. 

Managing Director Wajdi A. Alidriss said:

“Seventy percent of our business is in the Middle East and the rest is in Europe…When we started in 2009, we had only 69 customers and the VIP customer base touched 596 in 2011. By the end of this year, we will have 750 VIP customers.”

Steve Taylor, BBJ President, said Boeing expects to sell three to five private jets in China this year. “Last year’s net orders totaled four, including the 747-8 and three Boeing Business Jets.”

Huiwen Yang also mentions Airbus expects to sell as many as five Corporate Jets a year in China for the next two or three years, according to Vice President Francois Chazelle.