Airports are often seen as mere transit points, but some go above and beyond to offer unique experiences that make them destinations in their own right. Here are some of the coolest airports around the world that redefine the travel experience:
1. Changi Airport, Singapore
Changi Airport is consistently ranked as one of the best airports in the world, and for good reason. It features a butterfly garden, the world’s tallest indoor waterfall, a mirror maze, a rooftop pool, a free 24-hour movie theater, and a four-story-tall indoor slide. It’s more like a luxury resort than an airport, making layovers something to look forward to.
2. Hamad International Airport, Doha, Qatar
Hamad International Airport is known for its luxurious amenities and stunning architecture. It boasts an indoor tropical garden called the Orchard, high-end designer stores, and even a second airport hotel. This airport was expanded to accommodate the surge of visitors for the FIFA World Cup 2022, making it a top-notch travel hub.
3. Vancouver International Airport, Canada
Vancouver International Airport stands out with its two aquarium exhibits featuring more than 20,000 animal and plant species native to British Columbia. The airport’s design and amenities reflect the natural beauty of the region, making it a serene and enjoyable place to spend time.
4. Incheon International Airport, South Korea
Incheon International Airport offers a range of unique attractions, including an ice-skating rink, a massive duty-free mall, and a cultural museum. The airport is designed to provide a seamless and enjoyable experience for travelers, with plenty of entertainment options to keep you occupied during layovers.
5. Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Malaysia
This airport features a wooden boardwalk through a rainforest complete with its own waterfall. It also offers an airport spa for those looking to relax before their flight. The blend of natural elements and modern amenities makes it a standout airport.
6. Helsinki Airport, Finland
Helsinki Airport is known for its innovative sleeping pods, which provide a comfortable place to rest while waiting for your flight. The airport also has a book swap area where travelers can trade old reads for new ones, adding a touch of community and convenience to the travel experience.
7. Hong Kong International Airport, Hong Kong
Hong Kong International Airport offers a virtual golf course, art galleries, an IMAX theater, and an Aviation Discovery Center with a flight simulator. These features make it a hub of activity and entertainment, ensuring that there’s never a dull moment.
8. San Francisco International Airport, USA
San Francisco International Airport is home to a 24-hour yoga room and the SFO Wag Brigade, which includes therapy dogs and even a therapy pig named LiLou. These unique amenities help travelers relax and de-stress before their flights.
These airports are not just gateways to the world but destinations in themselves, offering a range of unique experiences that make travel more enjoyable and memorable. Whether it’s through luxurious amenities, innovative designs, or unique attractions, these airports set the standard for what modern air travel can be.
It is both surprising and unfortunate that in the business aviation sector, approximately 44% of private jets fly completely empty, carrying neither passengers nor cargo. An empty-leg flight is when a private jet flies without passengers or cargo. This happens when the plane must return to its home base or move to another location for its next charter. Theoretically, this offers travellers a chance to experience the luxury of private flying for less money.
Numerous operators and charter brokers concentrate their marketing strategies on filling empty legs to ‘democratize’ private aviation, thereby making it more accessible. While there are advantages from financial and environmental standpoints, the service may be unsatisfactory if clients are not fully informed before booking. Logistically and from a service standpoint, numerous complications can arise, making the process more challenging than it appears. So, what is the reality of empty legs, and what can actually occur?
While empty leg flights can provide significant savings, it’s crucial to be aware of their limitations. Such flights may have strict restrictions on changes, cancellations, or may require adherence to fixed itineraries.
Make sure you understand the terms and conditions of booking an empty leg flight to prevent unexpected issues. Keep in mind that a “discount” does not imply “inexpensive” – booking an economy seat on a commercial airline will always be more cost-effective. Even with a 75% discount, a 90-minute empty leg flight can still cost several thousand dollars off the original charter price.
Below are the top tips to ensure you are well-informed before inquiring about an empty leg flight.
- When considering booking an empty leg flight, it’s crucial to understand that the schedule is determined by the aircraft’s repositioning requirements. Therefore, the dates, routes, and times may vary more than those of standard commercial flights. Hence, booking empty leg flights could offer better opportunities if you have flexible travel dates. Openness to various options can enhance your likelihood of securing an appropriate empty leg that matches your itinerary. If you’re open to arranging your plans around an unconfirmed flight to enjoy the benefits of private flying at a lower cost, then opting for an empty leg flight could be an excellent choice. However, when travelling for an important event, the desired flights may not always be available on your preferred travel dates.
- Securing the best deals on empty leg flights requires both good timing and flexibility. However, planning ahead can also provide an edge. Due to their popularity, empty leg flights are frequently snapped up quickly.
- Explore dedicated platforms or specialized providers that focus on empty leg flights;
- Familiarise yourself with the seating capacities of private jets to better suit your needs. If you have a group ready to travel and willing to pay for their seats, be aware that operators may require booking the entire jet, unlike semi-private flights. Therefore, maximising the number of passengers can help ensure you enjoy the lowest cost per seat.
- As a niche segment of the air travel market, there may be only one flight available between your chosen departure and arrival cities in the month you plan to travel. There’s no guarantee that the return flight will be on an empty leg, so it’s essential to have a backup plan.
- Make sure the advertised empty legs are actually real and updated, sometimes they are not always accurate and sometimes don’t even exist.
- Without agreed permits and a secured crew, there is no absolute guarantee that an empty leg flight will proceed. It’s also important to remember that empty legs rely on the primary charter proceeding without any alterations to the aircraft’s scheduled itinerary. Consequently, there is always a risk of last-minute delays or cancellations, even just a few hours before departure.
- Be mindful of the final price, as hidden costs may be added to the flight by some providers. Many brokers often fail to disclose additional taxes, fuel surcharges, landing fees, and other expenses necessary for the flight’s operation. When flying in winter, it’s also advisable to check if the operator reveals their de-icing costs before booking. Additionally, Wi-Fi is typically billed after the flight based on the amount of bandwidth consumed.
- Always review the terms and conditions prior to flying. Operators may not provide any protection in the event of an AOG (Aircraft on Ground) situation due to maintenance issues. If you have strict travel plans and need to be at a specific location for an event, it’s advisable to consider booking a traditional charter, even if an empty leg flight seems to align with your schedule.
A proficient broker will always recommend a contingency plan and strive to secure availability for an urgent flight departing from the same or a nearby airport. It’s important to remember that empty leg flights, from an operator’s viewpoint, are merely incidental to their core business of passenger transport. Consequently, they are bound by the same limitations as any private jet charter.
Typically, the availability of empty leg flights increases during the peak travel seasons and significant holidays, as jets are frequently repositioning. By remaining adaptable and keeping an eye on available flights, you can take advantage of outstanding deals for luxury travel at substantially reduced prices.
In conclusion, empty leg flights are ideally suited for those with flexible schedules who enjoy spontaneous trips. However, it’s wise to have a backup plan to avoid any potential disruption to your vacation.
The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) reported global sales of 730 new private business jets in 2023. An increase from the 712 new jets sold in 2022. Sales of piston and turboprop airplanes also increased by an even larger percentage, as did sales of new helicopters. Overall new aircraft deliveries were valued at $27.8 billion, an increase of 3.6%.
Across the other sectors, new piston airplane deliveries increased by 11.8%, to 1,682 units; turboprop airplane deliveries increased by 9.6%, to 638 units and total helicopter deliveries increased by 9.8% to 962 units. “For the first time in more than a decade, the general aviation manufacturing industry has eclipsed 4,000 aircraft delivered. In addition to this strong showing, there are robust and growing order backlogs for all segments of aircraft.” said Pete Bunce, GAMA President and CEO, and added, “While the deliveries from 2023 are very encouraging, our industry faces headwinds from ongoing supply chain issues, workforce shortages, uncertainty and unpredictability from global regulators, and short-sighted efforts aimed at curbing business and general aviation, particularly in Europe.”.
Textron Aviation (Cessna) led the market in terms of the number of new jets sold in 2023, and the best-selling turboprop was again the Pilatus PC-12.
Read the full article HERE
PJ
Bombardier’s Proven Global 7500 Makes Debut at Singapore Airshow, Smoothest-flying Ultra-Long-Range Business Jet
- With more than 150 aircraft delivered to date, the Global 7500 aircraft is business aviation’s most reliable, luxurious, and productive home office in the sky
- The Global 7500 jet boasts an unrivaled cabin, and signature smooth ride and is the largest and longest-range business aircraft certified and in service
- In the past six months, the Global 7500 aircraft has built upon its long list of awards and has flown multiple record-breaking missions, showcasing its unmatched performance attributes
Bombardier today announced it is bringing its industry-defining Global 7500 aircraft to the Singapore Airshow Feb. 20-25, making its debut at this important industry event. Truly in a class of its own, the Global 7500 aircraft has transformed business aviation with its refined design, unsurpassed performance, and outstanding technological advancements.
The ultra-long-range Global 7500 aircraft has proven to be the highest-performing purpose-built business jet in the world. Holding the title of the longest-range flight in business aviation of over 8,225 nautical miles, Bombardier has delivered more than 150 aircraft, highlighting its high reliability and in-demand attributes. With a fleet dispatch reliability of more than 99.8% through well over 100,000 flight hours, unsurpassed performance, outstanding technological advancements, cutting-edge sustainability attributes, and luxurious, exceptional cabins for maximum productivity and comfort, the Global 7500 is in a class of its own.
“Bombardier leads the way in the development of cutting-edge, industry-defining aircraft and our Global 7500 aircraft embodies all of our outstanding craftsmanship, innovation, and performance attributes that set it apart from the competition,” said Jean-Christophe Gallagher, Executive Vice President, Aircraft Sales, and Bombardier Defense. “The Global 7500 aircraft is the perfect choice for our Asia-Pacific customers seeking the finest business jet for long-distance travel. It is also a capable option for specialized and defense clients who need a reliable workhorse for a variety of missions.”
The Global 7500 jet packs a punch when it comes to performance. It boasts a top speed of Mach 0.925 and a range of 7,700 nautical miles (14,260 km), enabling it to have the capacity to set numerous speed and distance records. Recently, the Global 7500 aircraft set multiple speed records, showcasing its impressive performance attributes.* These accomplishments build on earlier speed and distance records, including the fastest flight from Los Angeles to New York and New York to London, as well as the longest-ever flight out of London City Airport.
The Global 7500 aircraft also enables several key long-distance pairs from Singapore, including Singapore to San Francisco, and Singapore to London, along with other key long-distance routes in the Asia-Pacific region such as Hong Kong to New York, Tokyo to New York, and Melbourne to Los Angeles.
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Bombardier shipments continue to grow
Bombardier reported that revenues climbed by 16 percent year-over-year in 2023, topping $8 billion, as it scaled deliveries to 138 Challenger and Global business jets. The aircraft manufacturer expects deliveries to take another step up to between 150 and 155 in 2024, returning to levels not seen since 2016.
This year, most of that growth is expected to come from its super-midsize Challenger 3500s, with Global deliveries remaining stable.
Bombardier president and CEO Éric Martel:
“While we have everything in place to achieve our objective, I want to highlight that our delivery profile for the year is largely set by the pace at which we receive parts from our supplier. We are in an environment where we continue to play the cards we are dealt versus planning an ideal production schedule.”
Martel is optimistic about solid sales continuing this year, despite headwinds involving conflicts in the Middle East and Eastern Europe. “We do foresee quite a bit of activity right now on all of our platforms. Looking at our prospect list and people we’ve talked to, [activity] has remained strong.” Customers are not disappearing, he said, but added that they may be taking more time.
In 2023, deliveries were up by 15 units on the year, with Challenger shipments increasing by 13, to 63, and Globals by five, to 75. However, 2022 totals also included three shipments from the now-discontinued Learjet line. Bombardier handed over 32 Globals in the last quarter, compared with 29 a year earlier, and 24 Challengers, compared with 20 a year earlier.
The rise in Global deliveries in 2025 coincides with planned market entry to the Global 7500 and Global 8000. Martel said the development has remained on track for certification and initial deliveries next year. “We are flying the airplane a lot,” he said. While the aircraft has generated substantial interest from customers, Bombardier is offering a retrofit option for the 7500, which he said is keeping activity solid on that aircraft even as the new version is in the wings.
Meanwhile, thanks to the significant investments in the service center space, the company continued to expand its aftermarket revenues and market share. Aftermarket brought in $1.75 billion, up 16 percent from a year earlier and 75 percent since 2020. Bombardier anticipates this to continue to grow as it works toward its goal of $2 billion in aftermarket in 2025.
NetJets will be the launch fleet customer for the Bombardier Global 8000, and the company has placed an order for an additional four aircraft, bringing the total orders for the fractional ownership pioneer to 24 aircraft. Those 24 orders include eight Global 7500s that will be upgraded to the Global 8000 in addition to the 12 previously on order. The new aircraft is expected to enter service in early 2025, and has a list price of $78 million per aircraft. Bombardier has planned a Supplemental Type Certificate program to upgrade existing Global 7500 models to the Global 8000 specifications shortly after entry into service.
PJE
Luxembourg / Paris – Luxaviation Group, one of the largest business aircraft and helicopter operators worldwide headquartered in Luxembourg, is pleased to announce that ExecuJet France, part of Luxaviation Group, has received fully electric ground handling equipment (GHE) at their FBO in Paris Le Bourget Airport, making it the first ExecuJet FBO with fully electric owned GHE in Europe.
The milestone comes as a move in Luxaviation Group’s target to achieve 100% of GHE electrification in their FBOs by 2030. At their Paris FBO, the list of GHE that are fully electric includes ground power units, mototok, air stairs, luggage truck, toilet service, pushback tug, and a portable water truck. It follows their FBOs in Auckland, Melbourne, and Sydney, and sets a precedent for the rest of ExecuJet FBOs, whose combined efforts have achieved almost 60% of the target.
Patrick Hansen, CEO of Luxaviation Group, states: “We are very happy to have achieved this milestone, which contributes to our mission to provide outstanding and more sustainable business air travel experiences by fully electrifying our FBOs by 2030.”
Caroline Demsar, Deputy CEO of Luxaviation France, states: “I’d like to extend a personal thank you to the team in ExecuJet Paris for achieving this milestone and becoming our first fully electric European FBO.”
ExecuJet is committed to delivering excellent, state-of-the-art service to its customers while continuously innovating and striving to mitigate the environmental impact of air travel. Luxaviation Group’s 2030 electrification objective aims to align the Group with the sector’s climate change goals to ensure environmental responsibility in business aviation.
Private Jets Europe is a leading provider of private jet charter services, offering access to exclusive aircraft and personalized travel solutions. The company has established itself as a trusted partner for clients seeking luxury and convenience in air travel. In this interview, we speak with Cristian Octavian Frăsin, CEO and Founder of Private Jets Europe, about his journey in the industry, and the company’s commitment to providing exceptional service to its clients.
Luxury Lifestyle Awards: What inspired you to start Private Jets Europe, and how has the company evolved since then?
Cristian Octavian Frăsin: When we started our business in 2008, we noticed a significant gap in the market for these types of services. Recognizing it as a promising business opportunity, we embarked on a journey to set new standards and surpass expectations in the realm of luxury and corporate private jet charter services. We take great pride in providing a diverse range of professional services, with the utmost emphasis on the health, safety, and comfort of our esteemed clients.
LLA: How do you ensure the safety and security of your clients when they fly with Private Jets Europe?
CF: As I always like to say, safety is our number one priority. We exclusively work with accredited operators, who are the best in the business, and we have access to the latest aircraft types.Especially during the Covid period and in its aftermath, we have implemented strict health and safety guidelines. Chartered flight providers are even more stringent than commercial flights, partly due to the lower number of passengers, which makes it easier to keep track of everyone. Furthermore, private passengers rightfully expect top-quality service, as they have paid for a safe and secure travel experience. It’s important to note that those travelling on commercial flights typically come into contact with around 700 objects and people, on average. In contrast, private flying exposes you to only about 30 contact points.
Read the full interview here
