Private and business jets come in all shapes and sizes. Some, like certain models offered by Cessna, Honda, or even Embraer, are comparatively light and more approachable budget-wise. But you also have the large, heavy, long-range aircraft that, while extraordinarily capable, come with an intense price tag. Below are five of the most expensive private jets in 2023.
5 Bombardier Global 8000
Bombardier's newest iteration of the Global line aircraft is the Global 8000. The plane, priced at $78 million, is expected to enter service in 2025. Some notable features of this ultra-long-range jet are its impressive cabin altitude of 2,900 feet when flying at 41,000 feet and the Bombardier Vision flight deck's advanced fly-by-wire technology and side-stick controls.
With a capacity of 19 passengers, the jet has a top speed of Mach 0.94 and a range of 8,000 nautical miles. The Global 8000, therefore, can operate nonstop flights between cities like London and Perth and Los Angeles and Singapore. The aircraft includes a conference suite with a meeting or dining space that can seat six and an entertainment suite with a surround sound system. Lastly, the main suite has a full-sized bed and a private bathroom with a shower.
4 Airbus ACJ320neo
From Airbus Corporate Jets, the ACJ320neo is an A320neo modified for private use when a more standard private jet is inadequate. The aircraft has a price tag of $110 million and was delivered to its first customer in 2018. While A320neo can seat up to 180 people as a passenger aircraft, it sits just 19 and can sleep 17 in this corporate-configured variant. Offering more than 1,000 sqft of floor space, the ACJ320neo has four times that of most of its closest competition. Customers can fully customize the jet's interior to meet their needs through the Airbus Corporate Jet TwoTwenty Creative Studio.
With a range of up to 6,750 nautical miles, the aircraft can fly up to 15 hours nonstop, operating nonstop flights between cities such as Los Angeles to Beijing or London to Johannesburg. Other features include the Cat III autoland and 180-minute ETOPS certification. The aircraft's interior comprises an apartment-like design with a master bedroom featuring a king-sized bed and an en-suite bathroom with a large rectangular shower.
3 Boeing 787 BBJ
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is one of the American manufacturer's most popular twin-engine widebody aircraft due to its low operating costs, fuel efficiency, and passenger-friendly amenities. Like the ACJ320neo, Boeing's 787 BBJ is a variant modified for private use. With a price tag of $200 million plus, the jet can be found being utilized by billionaires, governments, and high-end charter operators.
Previously, the government of Mexico operated a private 787; however, in April 2023, the aircraft was sold to Tajikistan. While in a passenger configuration, the 787 can carry upwards of 200 passengers depending on the variant and how an airline has designed theirs. However, BBJ variants seat a maximum of 40 passengers. Needless to say, this flying mansion has plenty of space with 2,500 sqft of floor space.
The BBJ has a range of 9,945 nautical miles at Mach 0.85, meaning it can fly to practically any two cities in the world without needing a fuel stop while offering amenities such as lower cabin altitude, larger windows, cleaner and higher-humidity air, and more. The aircraft's cabin is so large that it can include two master bedrooms, two master bathrooms, a hallway, a dining room, and a conference area. Of course, the cabin on each aircraft will be unique as each customer can customize it to fit their needs.
Get the latest aviation news straight to your inbox: Sign up for our newsletters today!
2 Airbus ACJ350
Again in a similar fashion to the above jets, Airbus' ACJ350 is built off the Airbus A350, a popular twin-engine widebody aircraft. When a private plane comes to mind, relatively small and compact aircraft come to mind. But not with the ACJ350, which boasts a floor space of 3,300 sqft and costs a whopping $300 million. The interior design of the jet makes it a home in the sky for its owners as it has the quietest cabin in the industry, not to mention the cabin air that's exchanged every two minutes. Customers can fully customize the jet's interior to meet their needs through the TwoTwenty Creative Studio mentioned above.
The plane offers up to 22 hours of nonstop flight with an 11,100 nautical mile range in luxury. The standard configuration of the ACJ350 includes a full-size bedroom with a private bathroom suite, executive seating, a private office, conference/dining room area, multiple service areas, guest seating, and staff seating. Another premium feature of the jet is that it includes up to eight separate controllable temperature zones.
1 Boeing 747-8 BBJ
The final jet is the Boeing 747-8 BBJ, costing $418.4 million. As you have likely guessed, the 747BBJ is modeled after Boeing's famous four-engine-wide body aircraft. The 747-8 can hold up to 467 passengers in a passenger configuration, but the BBJ superjumbo accommodates just 100 passengers - though this is quite a lot for a private jet. It is the world's largest business jet in operation, offering 4,700 sqft between the main and top decks and a total length of 250 ft from nose to tail.
The 'Private Queen of the Skies' has a range of 8,929 nautical miles while utilizing many technologies developed for the 787 Dreamliner, such as its flight deck instrumentation, wing configuration, and engines. The interior is divided into staterooms, suites, lounges, passenger seating areas, dining rooms, and bathrooms. The master bedroom is located in the noise of the aircraft, under the cockpit, as it is where there is the most privacy and quietest as it is the farthest from the engines.