https://www.scmp.com/rss/324603/feed en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings China’s ultra-wealthy are quietly parking their private jets offshore to sidestep tougher compliance rules at home, while corporate executives are downgrading to commercial flights, analysts say, as economic headwinds hit the country’s business aircraft fleet. Aircraft owned by affluent Chinese nationals are said to be increasingly resurfacing in hubs such as Singapore and Japan, while more billionaires and corporate executives are turning to first-class commercial cabins or timeshare jet... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3337814/why-are-rich-chinese-quietly-moving-private-jets-offshore-slumming-it-budget-seats?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3337814/why-are-rich-chinese-quietly-moving-private-jets-offshore-slumming-it-budget-seats?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 28 Dec 2025 07:00:08 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings China’s top aircraft maker is stepping up efforts to promote its first business jet as it looks to break into a market dominated by Western aviation firms like Gulfstream Aerospace. The Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac) took the rare step of showcasing a completed version of the model – called the Comac Business Jet, or CBJ – at an exhibition in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou in October. The move signalled the state-owned company was “seeking to break into the large-cabin... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3335352/chinese-home-grown-business-jet-way-will-it-rival-gulfstream?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3335352/chinese-home-grown-business-jet-way-will-it-rival-gulfstream?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 06 Dec 2025 03:00:19 +0000 Reuters Reuters Qatar has offered to donate a plane to the United States and details are still being worked out, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said on Monday. “The Qatari Government has graciously offered to donate a plane to the Department of Defense. The legal details of that are still being worked out,” Leavitt said in an interview with Fox News. The luxury plane, which would be one of the most valuable gifts ever received by the US government, would eventually be donated to Trump’s presidential... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3309933/trump-accept-luxury-jet-qatar-possible-use-air-force-one-reports?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3309933/trump-accept-luxury-jet-qatar-possible-use-air-force-one-reports?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 11 May 2025 19:08:28 +0000 One person was killed and others were injured when a private jet owned by Motley Crue singer Vince Neil collided with another jet Monday afternoon at the Scottsdale Airport in Arizona, authorities said. Neil’s jet was landing at the airport when it veered off the runway and collided with another parked plane, Neil’s representative Worrick Robinson, IV, said in a statement. There were two pilots and two passengers on Neil’s plane, but he was not among them. “Mr Neil’s thoughts and prayers go out... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3298147/private-jets-collide-arizona-airport-killing-least-1-person?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3298147/private-jets-collide-arizona-airport-killing-least-1-person?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 11 Feb 2025 02:09:14 +0000 Carbon pollution from private jets has soared in the past five years, with most of those small planes spewing more heat-trapping carbon dioxide in about two hours of flying than the average person does in about a year, a new study finds. About a quarter million of the super wealthy - worth a total of US$31 trillion - last year emitted 15.6 million tonnes of carbon dioxide flying in private jets, according to Thursday’s study in the Nature journal Communications Earth & Environment. That’s about... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/3285736/carbon-pollution-high-flying-rich-private-jets-soars-study-finds?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/3285736/carbon-pollution-high-flying-rich-private-jets-soars-study-finds?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 08 Nov 2024 06:25:38 +0000 Whether you love or hate him, there is no arguing that Donald Trump’s taste in private jets is fantastic. That’s because his current flagship is a Boeing 757-200 airliner converted for VIP use. The 757 is an aircraft without equal. Since its launch in 1982, it’s been one of the most capable, versatile, and respected aircraft in the skies. However, Trump’s retrofit of the airliner as a business jet was questioned in an article earlier this year that turned its nose up at the plane, calling it... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3269337/donald-trumps-private-jet-really-crappy-and-dilapidated-former-presidents-plane-dubbed-trump-force?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3269337/donald-trumps-private-jet-really-crappy-and-dilapidated-former-presidents-plane-dubbed-trump-force?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 27 Oct 2024 20:00:08 +0000 Taylor Swift never fails to impress. At 15 years old, she was the youngest songwriter to ever sign with Sony. She now has 14 Grammys on her shelf – including four for album of the year, the most of any artist in history – several tours under her belt, 10 studio albums, a long list of chart-topping songs, and a beloved fan base who dub themselves “Swifties”. Such success makes Swift one of the world’s highest-paid celebrities and one of the richest female singers. According to a Bloomberg News... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3258236/how-did-taylor-swift-make-her-fortune-and-how-does-she-spend-it-eras-tour-billionaire-made-multiple?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3258236/how-did-taylor-swift-make-her-fortune-and-how-does-she-spend-it-eras-tour-billionaire-made-multiple?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 08 Apr 2024 20:00:36 +0000 The 747-8i Boeing Business Jet, which is a VIP-configured variant of the civilian jumbo plane, is the world’s largest private aircraft in active operation. The dual-level jumbo takes private flying to the next level as a flying palace capable of traversing time zones in the absolute pinnacle of luxury air travel. Marketed to governments and the world’s elite, these giant jumbo planes cost hundreds of millions of dollars. For example, the US government paid about US$325 million each for its two... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/travel-hotels/article/3256386/fancy-ride-largest-private-jet-world-peek-us400-million-boeing-747-8i-flying-mansion-used-royals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/travel-hotels/article/3256386/fancy-ride-largest-private-jet-world-peek-us400-million-boeing-747-8i-flying-mansion-used-royals?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 01 Apr 2024 20:00:33 +0000 Taylor Swift has bad blood with a Florida student behind several social media accounts dedicated to tracking celebrity private jets and their flight emissions. Jack Sweeney, a student at the University of Central Florida, received a cease-and-desist letter in December from the “Look What You Made Me Do” singer’s legal team alleging he “engaged in stalking and harassing behaviour” by publishing “real-time and precise information” about the singer’s whereabouts. Sweeney published details about... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3251350/taylor-swift-takes-legal-action-against-us-college-student-tracking-her-private-jet?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3251350/taylor-swift-takes-legal-action-against-us-college-student-tracking-her-private-jet?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 Feb 2024 03:53:25 +0000 Malaysia has a new billionaire king who has his own army, a fleet of private jets, and 300 luxury cars – including one apparently gifted by Adolf Hitler. Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar was crowned the country’s king on Wednesday in a ceremony attended by Malaysia’s prime minister, cabinet members and members of Malaysia’s nine royal families. The outspoken royal appears to want to make an impact in his role. He told the Singapore Straits Times last month that he is determined not to waste five years... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3250557/who-malaysias-new-king-sultan-ibrahim-iskandar-johor-royal-ferrari-driving-instagram-savvy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3250557/who-malaysias-new-king-sultan-ibrahim-iskandar-johor-royal-ferrari-driving-instagram-savvy?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 01 Feb 2024 11:00:18 +0000 From 80s talk show host to media mogul and one of the most iconic women in the world, Oprah Winfrey has blazed an incredible trail for herself and others over the last five decades. The first self-made Black female billionaire in the US, Oprah has an estimated net worth of US$2.8 billion, per Forbes. And she celebrates her 70th birthday on January 29 – so what better time to reflect on her life and money? We break down her success over the years. Oprah Winfrey made her start as a talk-show... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3249686/oprah-70-how-she-makes-and-spends-her-billions-media-moguls-private-jet-and-property-portfolio?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3249686/oprah-70-how-she-makes-and-spends-her-billions-media-moguls-private-jet-and-property-portfolio?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 25 Jan 2024 20:00:13 +0000 Elon Musk, the richest man on Earth according to Forbes, lives in a rented US$50,000 “box home”, sold most of his luxury properties, and once told his former partner Grimes she couldn’t buy a new mattress when she discovered a hole in the one they were sleeping on. But that doesn’t mean Musk doesn’t splurge at all – quite the contrary. He indulges in hobbies and vices like everyone else – his choices just tend to be a little less conventional than most. Elon Musk’s ambitions to colonise... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3239636/6-eccentric-things-billionaire-elon-musk-spends-his-money-james-bond-submarines-and-mclaren?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3239636/6-eccentric-things-billionaire-elon-musk-spends-his-money-james-bond-submarines-and-mclaren?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Oct 2023 03:58:15 +0000 Qatar Airways’ award-winning business class is not the airline’s only moneymaker. Unbeknown to many fliers, Doha-based Qatar has a private charter division called Qatar Executive that caters to the airline’s “ultra-high-net-worth individuals”. Founded in 2009, the wholly owned business sports a fleet of 20 customised private jets, including the Gulfstream G650ER, the recently delivered Gulfstream G700 and the Bombardier Global 5000. However, the biggest and most extravagant option is the US$73... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/travel-hotels/article/3237825/tour-qatar-airways-us73-million-vip-airbus-a319-private-jet-converted-airliner-boasts-large-bedroom?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/travel-hotels/article/3237825/tour-qatar-airways-us73-million-vip-airbus-a319-private-jet-converted-airliner-boasts-large-bedroom?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Oct 2023 08:00:13 +0000 In March 1923, over 400 deep-pocket travellers arrived back in New York City after spending 130 days at sea on board the world’s first around-the-globe cruise. A hundred years later, the ultra-wealthy are still voyaging around the world in style – but many have traded in the half-year boat ride for a three-week private jet trip. Luxury brands including Abercrombie & Kent, Safrans du Monde, TCS World Travel, National Geographic and Four Seasons all offer multi-day “air cruises” that fly to nearly... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/leisure/article/3233045/6-luxury-private-jets-offering-5-star-air-cruises-around-world-four-seasons-a321neo-national?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/leisure/article/3233045/6-luxury-private-jets-offering-5-star-air-cruises-around-world-four-seasons-a321neo-national?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 Sep 2023 05:00:16 +0000 Qatar Airways is considered one of the most luxurious airlines in the world – recently ranked second on Skytrax’s annual poll. But, unbeknown to many travellers, the Doha-based carrier also runs a private arm known as Qatar Executive. The high-end subsidiary targets the airline’s most elite travellers – specifically those willing to pay up to six figures for a flight. The business was launched in 2009 and has since amassed a fleet of multimillion dollar corporate jets, including the Gulfstream... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3227398/inside-qatar-airways-new-gulfstream-g700-private-jet-qatar-executive-now-offers-travel-same?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3227398/inside-qatar-airways-new-gulfstream-g700-private-jet-qatar-executive-now-offers-travel-same?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 12 Jul 2023 04:30:43 +0000 French firm Dassault just brought a model of its Falcon 10X private jet to the Paris Air Show, which took place from June 19 to 26. It’s not due to go into service until 2025 – but the cabin tour showed just how luxurious it’ll be. With a shower on board and a 203cm (6 ft 8 inches) tall cabin, it’s nicknamed “the penthouse of the skies”. As an ultra-long-range jet that can travel 12,000km (7,500 miles) with a top speed of Mach .925 (around 1,142 km/h or 710mph), it is competing with the likes... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3226096/inside-brand-new-dassault-falcon-10x-private-jet-set-fly-2025-luxurious-us75-million-aircraft-dubbed?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3226096/inside-brand-new-dassault-falcon-10x-private-jet-set-fly-2025-luxurious-us75-million-aircraft-dubbed?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 02 Jul 2023 00:00:13 +0000 2023 is looking to be the year that borders are fully reopened and we can finally bid farewell to the pandemic that has plagued the world for the past few years. For some lucky travellers, flying no longer means a sacrifice to the god of good food. Nor does supercars. Here are three luxury nuggets you need to know this year if you love to travel in style. 1. Plain food no more When you’ve forked out a fortune for a private jet, what you don’t want while you’re in the air is food that comes... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3205870/3-ways-travel-luxurious-style-2023-vistajets-michelin-starred-dining-your-private-jet-lamborghinis?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3205870/3-ways-travel-luxurious-style-2023-vistajets-michelin-starred-dining-your-private-jet-lamborghinis?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Jan 2023 03:00:14 +0000 As skies brighten after a turbulent two years in air travel, what lessons has private aviation learned and how will it make up for lost time? Gulfstream Aerospace president Mark Burns gives his long-range take. If you could go back to before Covid-19, what decisions would you make or change, given what we now know? As soon as news of the pandemic first appeared, we shifted our focus to protecting our employees, their families and our customers. Thanks to that vigilance, combined with our... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/article/3204366/gulfstream-boss-mark-burns-sustainability-and-private-jets-and-why-new-long-range-g700-and-g800?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/article/3204366/gulfstream-boss-mark-burns-sustainability-and-private-jets-and-why-new-long-range-g700-and-g800?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 27 Dec 2022 01:00:18 +0000 If you were to imagine the perfect air travel experience, might it look something like this? I arrive at the airport 10 minutes before take-off. Hand my passport to a well-groomed man who sorts out the details while I sit down with a drink. Someone else takes care of my bags. I’ve got an open bottle of water and a laptop in my hand-carry, I inform him. “No problem sir,” he says with a smile. My passport is returned almost immediately, and I am invited to board. All within those 10 minutes since... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3204072/how-private-business-jet-subscriptions-are-changing-luxury-travel-vistajet-and-jettly-mean?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3204072/how-private-business-jet-subscriptions-are-changing-luxury-travel-vistajet-and-jettly-mean?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 21 Dec 2022 04:09:57 +0000 Twitter suspended multiple accounts that track the locations of private jets using publicly available flight data, including one that followed the plane of the company’s owner, Elon Musk. Musk publicly declared last month that he would not ban the account even though he saw it as a safety risk, saying that it was evidence of his commitment to free speech. Early Wednesday morning in New York, the @elonjet page showed a message that read “account suspended” because it violated the platform’s... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3203354/twitter-suspends-accounts-tracking-elon-musks-jet?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3203354/twitter-suspends-accounts-tracking-elon-musks-jet?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Dec 2022 02:22:43 +0000 Though admittedly splendid, Emirates A380 and Boeing 777 aircraft aren’t functional for those who prefer to – or have to – fly private. Enter the Airbus A319 ACJ Executive Jet that caters to the uncrowned royalty of the world. The Executive A319 ACJ can fly billionaires and their teams (19 guests in all) in the lap of luxury. Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ divisional senior vice-president for planning, aeropolitical and industry affairs, commented, “We have seen an increasing demand in the private... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3200399/inside-emirates-luxurious-airbus-a319-acj-executive-jet-billionaires-and-celebrities-can-travel?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3200399/inside-emirates-luxurious-airbus-a319-acj-executive-jet-billionaires-and-celebrities-can-travel?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 21 Nov 2022 08:20:44 +0000 American programmer Jack Sweeney has created a myriad of Twitter accounts that track private jets, like Elon Musk’s. To dodge Sweeney and other trackers, many celebrities have signed up for free federal programmes that help them fly incognito. The programmes are not foolproof, and some high-profile people have ditched private jet ownership altogether. Celebrities like Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg are struggling to shake Twitter accounts that follow their private jets’ every move. So, how does... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3198461/how-elon-musk-and-donald-trump-dodge-jet-trackers-twitter-flying-incognito-does-it-work-lvmh-boss?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3198461/how-elon-musk-and-donald-trump-dodge-jet-trackers-twitter-flying-incognito-does-it-work-lvmh-boss?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 04 Nov 2022 17:00:16 +0000 Elon Musk, the richest person in the world, is a big fan of private jets – and he just added a new one to his collection. The 51-year-old recently bought a Gulfstream G700, according to Texas-based news site Austonia, which is expected to replace his Gulfstream G650ER. The Tesla boss regularly travels by private plane. In 2018, the billionaire flew more than 241,000km (150,000 miles) on his G650ER, according to flight records obtained by The Washington Post – that’s the equivalent of more than... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3198319/inside-elon-musks-new-us78-million-gulfstream-g700-private-jet-twitter-ceos-plane-arriving-2023-has?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3198319/inside-elon-musks-new-us78-million-gulfstream-g700-private-jet-twitter-ceos-plane-arriving-2023-has?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 03 Nov 2022 16:10:13 +0000 Every now and then, celebrities come under scrutiny not just for their extravagant spending, but for their gigantic carbon footprints. Over the past couple of months, Argentine footballer Lionel Messi, 35, and his team Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) have been in headlines for the star’s apparently excessive private jet usage and subsequent toll on the environment. The world’s highest-paid athlete – he’s worth US$130 million, according to Forbes – uses a Gulfstream V private jet valued at an... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3196240/2-trips-3-months-lionel-messis-excessive-private-jet-use?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3196240/2-trips-3-months-lionel-messis-excessive-private-jet-use?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 17 Oct 2022 12:00:11 +0000 Kylie Jenner was once upon a time the world’s youngest self-made billionaire. While the self-made angle is debatable and the billionaire status is dwindling, her ultra-luxurious lifestyle remains a constant. One of the latest additions to her high-flying lifestyle is a US$73 million private jet. Clearly, the grandeur of the Kardashian-Jenner family can put their counterparts to shame. Let’s take a closer look … Mind-blowing catering on board Making travelling first-class look second-rate is... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3195852/inside-kylie-jenners-us73-million-kylie-air-private-jet?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3195852/inside-kylie-jenners-us73-million-kylie-air-private-jet?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 13 Oct 2022 16:05:11 +0000 Billionaires are no strangers to the high life – especially in the case of private jets. Although owning at least one is a staple asset for many of the world’s wealthiest, not all jets are created equal, and some are inevitably more impressive than others – and of course come with different price tags. So, which billionaires own the most extravagant rides? 12. Jay-Z, 52: Bombardier Challenger 850 – US$40 million Net worth: US$1.3 billion Queen Bey and her billionaire hubby Jay-Z treat... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3184630/14-most-extravagant-celebrity-private-jets-kim?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3184630/14-most-extravagant-celebrity-private-jets-kim?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 09 Jul 2022 17:00:28 +0000 As a billionaire, having a private jet is probably no big deal. But Skims founder Kim Kardashian has brought the extravagant mode of transportation to a whole new level – and the world watched in awe as she showed it off in a recent episode of The Kardashians. She shared why it’s more unique than that of her rivals, and how the aircraft is said to be from the same place Amazon founder Jeff Bezos got his – reportedly even costing more. Here’s what you need to know about the US$150 million Kim... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3183229/inside-kim-kardashians-us150-million-private-jet-aka-kim?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3183229/inside-kim-kardashians-us150-million-private-jet-aka-kim?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Jun 2022 16:05:08 +0000 Thrilling car chases, dangerous motorbike stunts and edge-of-the-seat aeroplane flying fill Tom Cruise’s films, from the first Mission Impossible 26 years ago to the latest Top Gun sequel. While the actor certainly entertains fans by zooming across the screen, Cruise has a need for speed in real life too. This action star is a true vehicle collecting maverick, and his garage features million-dollar rides from vintage cars and cool motorcycles, to World War aeroplanes! In fact, several of his... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3181206/inside-tom-cruises-multimillion-dollar-collection-cars?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3181206/inside-tom-cruises-multimillion-dollar-collection-cars?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 12 Jun 2022 16:10:14 +0000 Private aviation has been booming since the start of the pandemic, with more and more travellers recognising the convenience and efficiency of flying on private jets. Not only do passengers avoid long security queues and crowded airports, but they can also enjoy the luxuries on board. The industry is reshaping itself with new business jets to keep up with growing demand. Amenities vary plane to plane, with smaller business aircraft like Volaris’ HondaJet offering four large recliners and a small... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3175437/peek-inside-new-boeing-767-vip-private-jet-which-sleeps-17?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3175437/peek-inside-new-boeing-767-vip-private-jet-which-sleeps-17?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 25 Apr 2022 14:00:22 +0000 He was once the world’s richest person and currently has a net worth estimated at around US$28 billion. The Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah, is also the country’s prime minister. The sultan has a degree from the Royal Military Academy in Sandhurst (the same one Princes William and Harry attended) and is known for his extravagant spending. From his love of gold (even his sinks are made of the stuff), to flying his barber from the UK to Brunei to make sure his locks are in order, the sultan... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3174250/how-sultan-brunei-hassanal-bolkiah-spends-his-billions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3174250/how-sultan-brunei-hassanal-bolkiah-spends-his-billions?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 16 Apr 2022 02:00:19 +0000 Elon Musk’s private jet has been grabbing headlines in the last week or so since the Twitter drama broke out between the billionaire Tesla CEO and a 19-year-old college student. While Musk refused to pay the teen US$50,000 to remove the Twitter bot tracking his private jet, the episode got us interested in the aircraft that ferries the world’s richest person around the planet. 5 things to know about Thai billionaire Nualphan Lamsam The aircraft in question is a Gulfstream G650ER business jet... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3167545/inside-elon-musks-us70-million-gulfstream-private-jet?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3167545/inside-elon-musks-us70-million-gulfstream-private-jet?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 18 Feb 2022 16:10:13 +0000 Private jets are a staple for the super-rich. But Russian-Israeli billionaire Roman Abramovich, best known as the owner of the English Premier League football club, Chelsea FC, is all set to sell his luxury ride – the private Boeing 767-300ER (registered P4-MES). Yes, that’s right! Meet Cristiano Ronaldo’s girlfriend and baby mama, Georgina Rodriguez Known as “Bandit” for the black stripes painted around the cockpit windows that resemble a black mask, the private jet is highly touted within the... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3155877/most-luxe-private-jet-ever-billionaire-roman-abramovichs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3155877/most-luxe-private-jet-ever-billionaire-roman-abramovichs?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 14 Nov 2021 06:00:21 +0000 When we consider the world’s highest paid people, we tend to think of the Elon Musks of this world, or the Chris Pratts and Kim Kardashians. But rarely do we think of heads of government as earning a pretty penny. Nevertheless, some of them do – and you may be surprised which ones. Listed below are 11 of the highest-paid heads of government in the world and their surprisingly lavish perks – from private jumbo jets to sprawling mansions. Read on to find out if your head of government made it on... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3150589/does-carrie-lam-really-get-paid-more-joe-biden-11-highest?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3150589/does-carrie-lam-really-get-paid-more-joe-biden-11-highest?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Sep 2021 10:03:50 +0000 In the latest instalment in our On Work / On Play series with luxury CEOs, we sat down with Thomas Flohr, founder and chairman of charter company VistaJet. He tells STYLE how private jet services have taken off during the pandemic and how Asia is driving much of the growth. What distinguishes the company’s business model from that of other charter companies? VistaJet is pioneering innovative solutions in business aviation by offering a simple subscription membership at a fixed rate. Customers... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3127996/how-asia-driving-growth-private-jet-charters-covid-19-health?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3127996/how-asia-driving-growth-private-jet-charters-covid-19-health?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Apr 2021 01:00:15 +0000 Selling private jets for a living is just like selling anything else – even lipstick or lingerie. That’s according to Diana Chou, a Hong Kong entrepreneur and the first woman in the business in Asia. “I know I can sell anything. I mean, I sold lipsticks, I sold lingerie, hotel rooms, and credit cards – why can’t I sell a plane?” Chou said of her decision to start a company selling aircraft 20 years ago. That business, under the Dragon General Aviation Group which she founded, has since expanded... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/3077337/after-lipstick-and-private-jets-aviation-boss-diana-chou-bets?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/3077337/after-lipstick-and-private-jets-aviation-boss-diana-chou-bets?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Mar 2020 08:00:19 +0000 China’s private jet market took a beating in 2019, a sign that business confidence among the country’s wealthy elites has faded sharply as the trade war and economic slowdown dampened enthusiasm for big ticket purchases and spending. There was a 12 per cent year-on-year drop in business jet flight hours in China last year, according to WingX, a data analytics firm focused on the business jet industry. The firm tracked approximately 10,000 flights on 953 business jets, conducted by 264... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3047145/japan-emerges-hotspot-chinas-wealthy-jet-setters-lunar-new?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3047145/japan-emerges-hotspot-chinas-wealthy-jet-setters-lunar-new?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Jan 2020 06:16:12 +0000 If anyone is looking for further evidence of a strong economy, here is a sign: wealthy individuals and companies are starting to snap up used private jets before they get too expensive. Take Steven Myers. A private-equity financier and a licensed pilot, Myers had been patiently looking to buy a jet for years. Why private jets are now more affordable But when he began noticing a drop in the number of planes for sale a few months ago, he moved quickly to buy a Cessna CJ2. (Myers would not say how... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/travel-food/article/2151663/demand-second-hand-private-jets-sign-stronger-economy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/travel-food/article/2151663/demand-second-hand-private-jets-sign-stronger-economy?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 24 Jun 2018 09:01:32 +0000 Corporate-jet makers are flooding the market, spurring deep discounts for new aircraft and fuelling a three-year slide in prices of used planes. Most major manufacturers, including Gulfstream and Bombardier – which is also contending with rising hurdles in its commercial-jet business – have pared production somewhat in the last couple years as demand for private jets has sagged. But that hasn’t been enough to halt declines in aircraft values, say consultants, brokers and analysts in the US$18... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/2115093/why-private-jets-are-now-more-affordable?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/2115093/why-private-jets-are-now-more-affordable?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Oct 2017 08:03:53 +0000 It’s the ultimate first-world problem: should I buy a private jet or hire one? According to people in the industry, there is a seismic shift among the super-rich business elite towards the latter. And that should be seen as a “wake-up call” to private-jet operators, according to Thomas Flohr, founder and chairman of VistaJet. “Stop buying air planes, just buy the hours you need. It is part of a big trend towards a shared economy globally,” said Flohr. “It’s a wake-up call that needs to be very... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/2113104/why-business-elite-are-ditching-their-private-jets-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/2113104/why-business-elite-are-ditching-their-private-jets-and?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 27 Sep 2017 23:15:15 +0000 On commercial airlines today, travelling in coach is a pain, while the wealthy are well looked after in first class. But for the ultrawealthy, there’s a whole other level available. For China’s “Golden Week” holiday at the beginning of October, a group of rich Asians will take off from Hong Kong on a lavishly appointed Boeing 777 for a nine-day tour with stops at luxury hotels in Nairobi, Kenya and Tahiti. The cost is US$45,000 per person. First luxury private jet tour from Hong Kong heads to... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/travel-food/article/2106829/peek-inside-boeing-tailored-worlds-richest?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/travel-food/article/2106829/peek-inside-boeing-tailored-worlds-richest?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 15 Aug 2017 04:30:45 +0000 Crystal AirCruises – the luxury private jet operator owned by Genting Hong Kong – has announced its first “air cruise” programme. Its Crystal Skye private jet will take travellers from Hong Kong to Nairobi in Kenya and Tahiti in French Polynesia. Chartered by Genting Hong Kong, the nine-day programme will start on September 30 in Hong Kong at the beginning of the Golden Week holidays period on the mainland. Converted from a Boeing 777, the 86-seat Crystal Skye private jet offers lounge seating... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/travel-food/article/2103110/first-luxury-private-jet-tour-hong-kong-heads-nairobi?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/travel-food/article/2103110/first-luxury-private-jet-tour-hong-kong-heads-nairobi?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 18 Jul 2017 07:45:45 +0000 For many, private jet ownership is an opportunity to flaunt their individuality. This is especially true in the rarefied airspace of the ultra-large executive jet. As the biggest and the baddest private jets flying, owners of these converted airliners want to make their mega-dollar planes stand out from the crowd. This brings us to Embraer. The Brazilian jet maker has long been a fan of highly stylized theme interiors. Last summer, Embraer introduced the far east-inspired Kyoto Airship and its... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/travel-food/article/2098237/private-jet-revives-vintage-hollywood-us83-million-worth?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/travel-food/article/2098237/private-jet-revives-vintage-hollywood-us83-million-worth?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 14 Jun 2017 03:30:45 +0000 Billionaire Robert Bass’s dream of building a private supersonic jet is poised to get a boost from one of the world’s top engine makers: General Electric . Aerion Corp. is in talks with GE to power what could be the first nonmilitary plane to fly faster than the speed of sound since Concorde flights were halted in 2003, according to a statement Monday by the Bass-backed aircraft start-up. The discussions represent a step toward resolving a major obstacle in Aerion’s plan to develop a jet that... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/tech-design/article/2095296/billionaires-luxury-jet-break-speed-sound-help-general?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/tech-design/article/2095296/billionaires-luxury-jet-break-speed-sound-help-general?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 23 May 2017 02:00:30 +0000 Travellers dreaming of a VVIP experience on board of a modified Boeing 787 can now do so with Deer Jet’s inaugural Hong Kong to Tahiti luxury flights. Last week, the Chinese private jet operator announced the launch of a series of “Dream Journeys” that will take guests across the South Pacific Ocean towards French Polynesia. The customised Boeing, or “Dream Jet”, is an ultra-long range private jet with a 220-square-metre cabin that houses private quarters for guests, the crew and butlers. It... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/travel-food/article/2093121/deer-jet-launches-super-luxury-flights-board-modified?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/travel-food/article/2093121/deer-jet-launches-super-luxury-flights-board-modified?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 May 2017 06:45:45 +0000 VistaJet is now the first international private jet operator that lets clients book flights on WeChat. The company hopes its newly launched service on the mobile platform can replace the convenience of owning  or renting a private plane by allowing affluent Chinese consumers to charter a private jet virtually in an instant. “For Chinese customers who require guaranteed aircraft availability 365 days a year, WeChat could genuinely become an alternative to ownership — merely instant message our... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/watches-jewellery/article/2090433/vistajet-now-lets-clients-book-private-jets-wechat?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/watches-jewellery/article/2090433/vistajet-now-lets-clients-book-private-jets-wechat?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 25 Apr 2017 07:30:45 +0000 To many travellers, long-haul flights can be torturously boring. Even frequent flyers, who can work in the air or sleep in confined spaces, may find the journey hard to enjoy, but interior and furniture designer Vick Vanlian refuses to give up on the potential fun factor. “The best feeling in the world is to party in one country and finish your party in a new one. It’s like magic, like a time capsule out of the movies,” Vanlian says. To make the magic happen, he designed a flying entertainment... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/tech-design/article/2085089/hk334-billion-all-it-takes-turn-your-long-haul-flight?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/tech-design/article/2085089/hk334-billion-all-it-takes-turn-your-long-haul-flight?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 07 Apr 2017 06:00:30 +0000 So you want to see all of the world’s greatest sights … in 29 days? Good news: For the first time ever, it’s a realistic proposition. But there’s a catch: You’ll have to do it on a private jet. And it’ll run you US$159,000 per person. At least that’s what Edie Rodriguez, chief executive officer of Crystal Cruises, is proposing with the company’s soon-to-launch AirCruises, whose first “Around the World: Iconic Sights” tour will pit stop in Easter Island, Uluru, Lhasa, Jaipur, Victoria Falls, and... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/travel-food/article/2080735/see-worlds-greatest-places-one-month-flying-cruise?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/travel-food/article/2080735/see-worlds-greatest-places-one-month-flying-cruise?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Mar 2017 00:30:45 +0000 Private planes and jets used to be for billionaires and celebrities. The skies were filled with Louis Vuitton trunks and plenty of businessmen setting their own agendas for where and when to send those wheels up. However, in the last few years things have changed – although private jetting is still utterly niche – and a whole new market has opened up, where tech is leading the charge. The traditional model of private aviation needed to be disrupted – and fliers are rejoicing. Today, you can go... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/travel-food/article/2061965/demand-private-jet-charters-gain-popularity-thanks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/travel-food/article/2061965/demand-private-jet-charters-gain-popularity-thanks?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Jan 2017 07:00:15 +0000 From the clients' favourite bottle of Château Mouton Rothschild to their children's beloved blankets, Jenny Lau makes sure the private jet owners on her watch have all their needs met. The in-flight butler duties are only a small part of the services Lau and her team at Sino Jet Management - the private jet management firm she founded in 2008 - provide. The firm covers the operational side of things, such as pilot recruiting, jet maintenance, applications for flight plans, routing requests and... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/article/1653986/chinas-private-jet-market-expands?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/article/1653986/chinas-private-jet-market-expands?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 11 Dec 2014 14:00:45 +0000 The sky's the limit with Four Seasons, which has introduced a jet that lets you relax in luxury. With its interior and exterior created by the company's team of designers, passengers can enjoy exclusive bespoke journeys from the moment they book a trip. Guests can look forward to handcrafted leather flatbed seats, globally-inspired cuisine and the signature Four Seasons service, both on board and on the ground. Global in-flight Wi-fi keeps guests and staff connected, so spa treatments, tee... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/article/1520500/four-seasons-launches-private-luxury-jet?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/article/1520500/four-seasons-launches-private-luxury-jet?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Jun 2014 15:15:15 +0000