Introduction to the Airbus A380 Flying Palace Jet
The Airbus A380 Flying Palace is a private A380 that never entered service. Prince Al Waleed bin Talal was the first individual to purchase an Airbus A380. He was due to take delivery in the spring of 2013, but the aircraft was sold before delivery.
The name comes from the plans for the cabin. A VIP A380 offers two full-length decks, far more floor space than any purpose-built business jet, and the concept became shorthand for a palace in the sky: private suites, lounges, dining rooms and spa-style bathrooms spread across both decks.
The order was unusual from the start. Only one VIP order for the A380 was ever placed, in 2007, and Airbus later cancelled it.
What makes the A380 a "Flying Palace"
The A380's size is what made the idea possible. According to Airbus, it is the largest passenger plane ever built:
- Length: 73 metres
- Wingspan: nearly 80 metres
- Decks: the only full-length double-deck passenger jet
- Engines: four turbofans, either Engine Alliance GP7200 or Rolls-Royce Trent 900
- Range: 8,000 nautical miles (14,800 km)
On airline service, the A380 typically seats 525 passengers, with a maximum certified capacity of 853. A private owner would use that same space for a handful of guests, which is why the VIP concept reads more like a floor plan for a house than a seating chart.
Features and Amenities Offered on the Flying Palace Jet
A VIP A380 cabin is a custom build. The owner chooses the layout with a completion specialist, so there is no fixed list of features. The rooms that VIP concepts for the A380 commonly describe include:
- A master suite with a bedroom, private bathroom and dressing area
- Guest suites for family members or senior staff
- A formal dining room and one or more lounges
- An office or meeting room
- A wellness or spa area
- Crew rest areas and a galley sized for a full service
Airbus notes that the A380 is particularly quiet in the cabin. That matters as much as floor space on a long flight.
Cabin Layout, Capacity, and Living Spaces
The A380's two decks give a designer two separate floors to work with. In the airline version, the main deck holds most of the seats and the upper deck runs the full length of the aircraft. In an all-economy layout, the A380 was designed for 538 passengers on the main deck and 315 on the upper deck.
A private cabin would use only a fraction of that capacity. A typical VIP plan splits the aircraft into zones: the owner's private quarters, an area for entertaining guests, a working area, and space for staff and crew. With 8,000 nautical miles of range, the aircraft could link most major cities nonstop.
Cost and Ownership of the Airbus A380 Flying Palace Jet
There is no list price for a Flying Palace. Airbus has stopped building the A380. Emirates received its 123rd A380 on December 16, 2021, and it was the 251st A380 Airbus produced.
That leaves converted airliners as the only route to a private A380. One Swiss aircraft broker has proposed converting former Singapore Airlines A380s for head-of-state or VVIP transport, for under $300 million apiece. Beyond the purchase and the custom cabin, an owner would also carry the cost of crew, maintenance and fuel for a four-engine jet.
Chartering a large private jet
A private A380 is not an aircraft you can book for a trip. If you want a large cabin for a long flight, BLADE arranges private charters of jets through licensed operators. All BLADE flights in the United States are operated by FAA-licensed carriers. Tell BLADE your route, date and group size, and compare the aircraft that are available for your trip.