Is there a trend for more private aircraft buyers to bring in their own interior designers?
__________________________________________________________ FIRST-CLASS FLIGHT The sky’s the limit with aircraft outfitted for ultra-wealthy individuals. PRINCE ALWALEED BIN TALAL of Saudi Arabia was the first individual to place a firm order for an Airbus double-decker A380 (price tag: approximately $300 million), the largest commercial airplane in the world. The interior design is expected to cost at least $200 million and will take up to two years to complete, say industry experts. DONALD TRUMP’s luxe 727-23 includes seats with 24-carat-gold seatbelt buckles, Waterford crystal lamps and oil paintings. MARK CUBAN, owner of the Dallas Mavericks NBA basketball team, reportedly had custom seats installed on his 767-277 aircraft that are large enough to accommodate the team’s very tall players.