First Class

Boeing Names VIP 787 Customer, Unveils 747-8I VIP Concepts

By Chris Kjelgaard, Aviation.com Senior Editor

posted: 22 May 2007 03:24 pm ET

: Boeing has developed Boeing 787 VIP interior concepts for customers such as Joseph Lau, announced on May 22 as the customer for the seventh 787 VIP aircraft to be ordered directly from the manufacturer. Credit: Boeing Photo
: Even though it does not perform detailed interior design work or install personalized interiors for VIP aircraft, Boeing has developed a series of concepts for 787 VIP interiors. Credit: Boeing Photo
: Boeing expects customers for its huge 747-8I VIP aircraft to want beautiful, personalized interiors for their jets and has developed a series of interior concepts to stimulate its customers' imaginations. Credit: Boeing Photo

Hong Kong real estate tycoon Joseph Lau has ordered a Boeing 787 VIP aircraft, the manufacturer revealed today.

Boeing values the order from the Hong Kong billionaire at $153 million, the current list price for the 787 VIP. Lau's purchase increases to seven the number of 787 VIPs ordered directly from the manufacturer. Customers have signed contracts with leasing companies for additional 787s for VIP use.

The manufacturer announced Lau's 787 VIP order at the European Business Aviation Conference & Exhibition (EBACE) in Geneva. At the show Boeing also unveiled design concepts for its 747-8 VIP aircraft, which is based on the 747-8 Intercontinental (747-8I), the new stretched 747 model that the company is developing.

To date, customers--all undisclosed--have ordered four 747-8 VIP aircraft. There are 22 earlier-model Boeing 747s in VIP use today.

Boeing's concept rendering for the 747-8 VIP include features such as vaulted ceilings, spiral staircases and video wall displays.

"With more than 5,000 square feet of cabin space, the new 747-8 VIP jet epitomizes incomparable luxury and operational flexibility," said Steven Hill, president of Boeing Business Jets.

Incorporating the advanced technology of the 787, the VIP version of the 747-8I provides a cabin area of 4,786 square feet (444.6 square meters). The new SkyLoft area, located above the main cabin between the upper deck and tail of the 747-8I, potentially provides another 881 square feet (81.8 square meters) of cabin space, giving owners the opportunity to create unique personal suites, private offices and recreational spaces.

With the SkyLoft, the VIP-configured 747-8 offers 5,667 square feet (526.5 square meters) of cabin space in total. It can carry 100 passengers and fly up to 9,260 nautical miles (17,150 kilometers) at a cruise speed of Mach 0.86.

Although Boeing has unveiled interior design concepts for the 747-8I VIP--as it did earlier this year for the 787 VIP--it doesn't design or install interiors for VIP jets. It delivers them "green" without interior furnishings or exterior paint to completion centers, where customers work with certified designers to have the interiors of their VIP aircraft personalized and installed and the exteriors painted to their specifications.