VIP version of Dreamliner draped in luxury

Published 9:00 pm Wednesday, January 31, 2007

Want a flying palace?

For upward of $200 million, you can have one, courtesy of Boeing Business Jets.

During a conference in Dubai, the company recently unveiled renderings of custom interior designs for its 787 VIP airplane.

“A Boeing 787 VIP affords its owner complete accommodation,” said Steven Hill, president of Boeing Business Jets, in a prepared statement. “Whether you are looking for a flying palace or a business office in the sky – or both, the possibilities are endless.”

Boeing Business Jets has commissioned several design firms to develop preliminary concepts for 787 VIP interiors. Boeing delivers VIP jets without interior furnishings or exterior paint. Customers work with certified designers to develop personalized interiors.

To date, undisclosed customers have ordered five 787 VIP airplanes and leased two additional VIP jets through leasing companies.

Last December, 787 program vice president Mike Bair expressed surprise at how quickly the VIP version of the Dreamliner was selling.

“It’s becoming a must-have for the world’s billionaires,” Bair said.

The first commercial version of the 787 is scheduled to make its first flight later this year. List prices for Boeing commercial 787s range from $138 million to $188 million.