The Jet setters'club
They own some of the best private jets you can imagine. Here’s a look at the biggest names of India Inc. and their private fleets.
Classification: Super Luxury
Mukesh Ambani
The toy: Airbus A319
The price: Rs 225 crore
The wow factor: Ambani’s Airbus 319 is custom-fitted with an office and a cabin with game consoles, music systems, satellite television and wireless communications.
The plane, which he gifted his wife Nita on her birthday, also has a master bedroom, a bathroom with a range of showers and a bar with mood lighting.
This A319 features Airbus’ common two crew glass cockpit with sidestick controllers (first introduced on the A320).
Vijay Mallya
The toy: Airbus A319
The price: Rs 225 crore
The wow factor: The A319 is one of the smaller members of Airbus’ highly successful single-aisle airliner family.
Mallya’s Airbus A319 can fly to London or the US with a single refuelling halt.
Boasting of plush interiors, it has the capacity to seat 24 people and has 6,000 cubic foot of living space.
Gulfstream IV
Who: K.P. Singh, Chairman, DLF Group
K.P. Singh
The toy: Gulfstream IV
The price: Rs 170 crore
The wow factor: The Gulfstream IV is a significantly improved, larger, longer range and advanced version of the earlier Gulfstream II and Gulfstream III models.
It offers long range luxury transport for up to 14 passengers. The most noticeable improvement on the G-IV over the earlier Gulfstream models are the Rolls-Royce Tay turbofans, which significantly reduce fuel consumption and noise pollution.
Atul Punj
The toy: Gulfstream IV
The price: Rs 170 crore
The wow factor: Punj’s Gulfstream IV has an aerodynamically and structurally improved wing with 30 per cent fewer parts. The aircraft has provisions for two beds.
It also has an in-built shower and a luxury living room space—to make sure the journey is a relaxed one. No wonder, Punj always looks refreshed.
Classification: Large Cabin, ultra long range
Lakshmi Mittal
Gulfstream G-V
The toy: Gulfstream G-V
The price: Rs 200 crore
The wow factor: The steel baron uses his Gulfstream G550 to traverse three countries in a day.
Gulfstream G550, regarded as the Rolls-Royce of private jets, can reach speeds of 675 miles per hour, and can carry eight passengers.
Bombardier global express
The toy: Bombardier Global Express
The price: Rs 200 crore
The wow factor: The Global Express is the ultra long range business jet developed by Bombardier Aerospace. Bill Clinton and Steven Spielberg are among proud owners of such jets, as is Anil Ambani.
The junior Ambani’s Bombardier can fly over 5,950 nautical miles. Bombardier's 14.73 m-long cabin boasts of a noise and vibration cancellation system, which makes it easier to hold meetings on board. Customised interior layouts include office, stateroom and a conference-style area.
Falcon 2000
Ratan Tata
The toy: Falcon 2000
The price: Rs 115 crore
The wow factor: An avid aviator, Ratan Tata pilots his own fleet of corporate jets that includes the Falcon 2000.
A two-jet transcontinental aircraft, the Falcon 2000, with its wide cabin, offers a high level of comfort. It’s a top draw aircraft.
G.M. Rao
The toy: Falcon 2000
The price: Rs 115 crore
The wow factor: G.M. Rao logs at least 100 hours every month flying the Delhi-Mumbai-Hyderabad route on his Falcon 2000. Two sets of pilots optimise the use of his aircraft.
His Falcon 2000 has the same fuselage width as the Falcon 900B while the cabin is slightly shorter. He also holds meetings aboard his plane.
Gautam Singhania
The toy: Canadair Challenger 604
The price: Rs 110 crore
The wow factor: International aircraft refurbisher Eric Roth is behind the beige and brown interiors of Singhania’s Challenger and an 18th century jamawar shawl of the tycoon’s choice apparently served as the inspiration. Features include an advanced Collins ProLine IV EFIS avionics system with colour displays, and increased fuel tankage.
*All prices are approximate & to the best of our knowledge
