'Unsurpassed luxury': Emirates launches private jet service

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This was published 10 years ago

'Unsurpassed luxury': Emirates launches private jet service

By Craig Platt
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Emirates has launched a private jet service promising "unsurpassed luxury" for well-heeled travellers.

The airline is looking to target increasing demand from wealthy travellers looking to book private services, particularly in the Middle East and Europe, but also in the rapidly growing Chinese, Indian and Russian markets.

The announcement comes with the launch of a special website for bookings on the service, called Emirates Executive.

The Airbus A319 is configured to carry up to 19 passengers and based in two main "zones" – a dining and executive lounge area at the front of the aircraft designed to seat up to 12 passengers, combined with a work area and two large sofas surrounding four mechanically activated tables and two LCD screens. The second features 10 private suites each featuring a lie-flat seat and a LCD screen – which feature the airline's normal inflight entertainment options along with live TV, video conferencing and internet access.

The jet also features a bathroom with shower and floor heating.

Food on board comes from the airline's own menus, but Emirates promises that customised options are available.

"We have seen an increasing demand in the private travel segment, especially in the Middle East and Europe as well as in markets such as India, Russia and China, and with Emirates Executive and the launch of its website, we are looking to tap into this niche market with the high-quality of service and attention to detail associated with Emirates," said Emirates' divisional senior vice-president Adnan Kazim.

Airlines around the world are moving in different directions when it comes to high-end travellers. Qantas announced three years ago it was removing first-class seats from all but a handful of flagship routes. Earlier this year German carrier Lufthansa also announced it was reducing the number of planes in its fleet with first-class offerings.

Conversely, US carrier JetBlue, an all-economy class carrier, announced this week it would be introducing first-class seating with lie-flat seats. Similarly, Virgin Australia introduced lie-flat seats to its planes in 2011 in an effort to win more premium business travellers from rival Qantas.

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British Airways introduced a new first-class product in 2010 at a cost of $176 million. Last month, Singapore Airlines introduced improvements to all its classes, including increasing the length of its first-class bed from from 203 centimetres to 208 centimetres and a new fixed-back shell design with curved side panels.

In other Emirates news, the airline has partnered with Google to create a Street View showing off the inside of one of the airline's A380 superjumbos. The technology allows users to wander through the largest airliner in the world. Try it below.


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