This Boeing 787-9 private jet can fly non-stop from Sydney to London

Settle in for 20 hours of airborne luxury on a VIP edition of the Boeing 787-9

By David Flynn, October 23 2019
This Boeing 787-9 private jet can fly non-stop from Sydney to London

While Qantas continues to ponder the launch of non-stop 'Project Sunrise' flights between Sydney and London from 2023, one cashed-up high flyer is ready to make that trip on their own private Boeing 787-9 jets.

Yes, that's jets plural: two Dreamliners are headed for the hangar of this high net worth traveller, in an order with a list price value of US$564 million.

Boeing revealed the sale at this week's annual National Business Aviation Association convention and corporate aircraft show in Las Vegas, although perhaps understandably, the company  says "the VIP customer has requested to be unidentified."

On board a privately-owned Boeing 787-9 business jet.
On board a privately-owned Boeing 787-9 business jet.

It's the 16th private order for the special Boeing Business Jet (BBJ) edition of the 787 Dreamliner series.

“The BBJ 787-9 offers our most discerning customers the ability to travel in ultimate comfort and fly directly to just about any city on earth," said Boeing Sales and Marketing chief Ihssane Mounir. "We’re talking about London to Sydney or Tokyo to Cape Town."

On board a privately-owned Boeing 787-9 business jet.
On board a privately-owned Boeing 787-9 business jet.

"With a total of 16 orders to date, the BBJ 787 program has won over other government and private customers who want to work, rest, and arrive refresh and ready for a productive day.”

On board a privately-owned Boeing 787-9 business jet.
On board a privately-owned Boeing 787-9 business jet.

Boeing also shared some concept images of the BBJ787's cabin, shaped by feted superyacht designer Andrew Winch, founder of Winch Design studio.

On board a privately-owned Boeing 787-9 business jet.
On board a privately-owned Boeing 787-9 business jet.

Winch initially focussed his skills on sailboats and yachts, but says "we were invited to design our first aeroplane interior by a sailboat client. He did not go through with the sailboat in the end, but we ended up doing the interior of a Boeing Business Jet (BBJ) 2 for him."

On board a privately-owned Boeing 787-9 business jet.
On board a privately-owned Boeing 787-9 business jet.

Boeing says its 787-9 business jet has a range of 9,485 nautical miles – sufficient to do the 9,188nm 'Kangaroo Route' in a single hop.

Qantas is running a series of non-stop 'research flights' on its Boeing 787-9s ahead of launching Project Sunrise.
Qantas is running a series of non-stop 'research flights' on its Boeing 787-9s ahead of launching Project Sunrise.

Meanwhile, Qantas will mount its own non-stop Boeing 787-9 flight from London to Sydney next month as the second of three Project Sunrise research flights, and is expected to make a decision on the jets it will buy for Project Sunrise – a choice between Boeing's 777X and the Airbus A350-1000 – within the next eight weeks.

Review: Here's what it was like to fly on Qantas' non-stop Boeing 787-9 from New York to Sydney

David

David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.

05 Dec 2018

Total posts 143

Wow would love to just have a tour inside this jet to get sense of the space. I could do a 20 hour flight like this :)

Singapore Airlines - KrisFlyer

08 Jun 2018

Total posts 91

Looks amazing. Sadly I can only dream. Although given some of the nonsense that Alan Joyce and the Qantas spin team have put out about Project Sunrise, I was half expecting them to claim this as their latest idea!!

Singapore Airlines - KrisFlyer

14 Jun 2017

Total posts 49

It should be absolutely illegal to emit the hydrocarbons of 300 people in the name of vanity and luxury. Absolutely disgusting.

05 Dec 2018

Total posts 143

I agree it's horrible environmentally. However at the same time if the owner offered me a ride, I wouldn't say no.

Guilty pleasure hypocrite I am.

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

01 Apr 2017

Total posts 27

Aircraft typically consume hydrocarbons. If they are emitting them, then something's very wrong with the plane :D We all know jet engines emit chemtrails. ;)


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