2015 Corporate Jet Investor Awards, Basel delivers Boeing BBJ1, Winter storms may ruin Valentines travel plans, Private jet demand increases, but prices fall

Best Private Bank for Business Jet Finance and Advisory EMEA 2015: Credit Suisse

Best Business Jet Financier EMEA 2015: CIT Business Aircraft Finance

Most Innovative Financier EMEA 2015: AirFinance

Best Business Jet Financier Western Europe 2015: Bank of America Merrill Lynch

Best Business Jet Financier Western Europe 2015: BNP Paribas

Best Business Jet Financier CEE and CIS 2015: UBS

Best Business Jet Financier Africa 2015: Investec

Best Business Jet Financier Middle East 2015: Deutsche Bank

Highly Commended EMEA 2015: Element Capital

Highly Commended EMEA 2015: Société Générale Equipment Finance

Aircraft of the Year: Embraer Legacy 500

Jet Aviation Basel recently redelivered its 25th Boeing BBJ with a custom VIP cabin interior and aircraft livery. The long-range BBJ1 aircraft was completed and certified by the Completions Center in nine months.

With the BBJ1 having to regularly meet long-range flight missions, a light-weight cabin interior is critical. Jet Aviation Basel leveraged technology improvements from its extensive investment in the Boeing 787 platform and developed a sound insulation optimization technique that decreased the weight by 30 percent. This provided the added benefit of a very quiet cabin.

“Our ability to outfit a green aircraft with innovative design, state-of-the-art technology and uncompromising luxury within such a timeline really underscores great teamwork and cooperation,” said Adam White, senior director of Completions Engineering at Jet Aviation Basel.

The modern minimalistic interior design contrasts white and taupe tones against black wood, with stingray skin inlays emphasizing the luxuriousness of each custom-made piece of furniture. Following completion and certification of the VIP Cabin Interior, the BBJ1 received the most complex paint livery ever executed at Jet Aviation Basel. The sleek black-to-grey fade-out livery of 19 mixed design colors link the interior color palette to the exterior across the entire fuselage and tail. Both interior and exterior design concepts were created in-house by the Jet Aviation Design Studio.

Anyone with travel plans to or from the Northeast over the Valentine’s weekend may need to cancel those romantic dinner reservations and make back-up plans for when to exchange flowers and chocolates with their sweethearts.

Another winter storm comes with blizzard watches from the Weather Channel for the entire coast of New England, including Boston, where all rail service was shut down Monday evening and all day Tuesday.

On Thursday evening, some airlines began posting travel alerts for passengers with weekend flights.

Low oil prices have created an increased demand for private jets in Africa, the Middle East and Asia, according to a new report from the International Bureau of Aviation (IBA), which was published to coincide with Corporate Jet Investor London 2015.

“2015 is shaping up to be an interesting year,” says Chris Lennon, head of IBA’s business aviation and private jet department. “With the price of oil fluctuating to as low as $65 per barrel, there is a growing demand for corporate aircraft, especially within Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. In addition to the apparent resurgence of the corporate aircraft market within Europe, the outlook for 2015 is positive in many regions.”

“However, challenges remain. Chinese austerity measures mean corporate jet owners and operators still face restrictions. But this also brings about greater ambition, with Chinese operators intending to expand their services into Europe or invest in existing operators,” Lennon adds. “In Eastern Europe, with economic sanctions and the weakening of the Rouble, oligarchs and corporations are diverting their attention elsewhere.”