Luxury in the air was a hot topic this week as three different stories appeared. First, Versace announced that they had teamed with TAG to design a luxury interior for the Airbus 319 jet. Versace has already designed interiors for helicopters, homes and other jets. The design is fairly spartan, with black, white and silver accents. The plane is for a European client and will go into service in Q4 2008.
Not to be outdone, Boeing unveiled mockups of potential interiors for its 747 and Dreamliner 787 VIP lines (more photos on Gizmodo). The 787 VIP costs $153 million and has a 2,404 square foot cabin. The 747 VIP has a 4,786 square-meter cabin (typo? that seems pretty big), and features a loft, vaulted ceilings and spiral staircases.
And finally, the Australian airline Qantas opened a new flagship First Class lounge in Sydney’s airport, designed by industrial designer Marc Newson. The lounge features concierge and spa services, large American Oak sculptures, a library, and decked-out entertainment and business zones.
All these announcements show an industry fulfilling demand for a more exclusive, more luxurious experience. It’s certainly a far cry from being crammed in the middle in coach. But as fuel costs continue to rise, it will interesting to see if demand remains for such extravagant luxury.