Setting a new standard for VVIP cabins in the BBJ 777-9 - CelestialSTAR

 Lufthansa Technik in collaboration with Boeing Business Jets has unveiled full details of its latest VVIP cabin concept for the BBJ 777-9. New renderings of this spacious interior, which covers more than 340 square meters in total, present a design specifically tailored to the requirements of a new generation of VVIP and head-of-state aircraft. The final designs combine traditional influences from the Middle East's cultural heritage with a modern twist, and now reveal for the first time the name of this new concept.

With CelestialSTAR, Lufthansa Technik's design team aims to emphasize both the contemporary purity and the typical Middle Eastern geometric design patterns as well as the vastness and openness of the sky: a reminiscence not only of the widest cabin among all newly available VVIP aircraft types, but also of the diversity in the Middle Eastern philosophy.

Alexis Fecteau, Managing Director of Marketing at Boeing Business Jets, commented: “The thoughtful design of the BBJ 777-9 interior created by Lufthansa Technik illustrates the key features of our newest, largest and most capable BBJ on the market. The elegant interior elements maximize personal comfort for passengers onboard the BBJ 777-9, which is capable of flying over 22 hours and connecting any two cities in the world, non-stop.”

Hassan Gasim, Sales Director Middle East VIP & Special Aircraft Services at Lufthansa Technik, said: “The BBJ 777-9 is the largest aircraft type newly available on the market and thus simply predestined for its role as successor to the BBJ 747 as the most popular aircraft for heads of state, many of which are among our loyal customers for decades. Through our close cooperation with Boeing Business Jets and furthermore Lufthansa's role as launch customer for the new type, we were able to build up extensive technical expertise at an early stage. Therefore, we are pleased to present our valued customers at the Dubai Airshow this once again groundbreaking interior that makes the most of the BBJ 777-9's size.”

The flagship feature of the new cabin design are the cocoon-like Private Bed- and Bathroom which, together with the adjacent Work&Balance area, form the multifunctional Private Suite for the VVIPs. In this cocoon, the bathroom and sleeping quarters can merge into a self-contained retreat offering the greatest possible privacy if required, for example if the VVIP passengers want to enjoy the largest rain and massage shower ever designed for a private jet or make themselves comfortable in the generous king-size bed.

Cocooning into an immersive entertainment center on demand

Adapted from Lufthansa Technik' EXPLORER concept, the sophisticated projection technology transforms the enclosed cocoon into an almost immersive wellness and entertainment world if required, displaying a wide variety of customized digital content ranging from a cinema screen to 180° impressions of the next travel destination or virtual works of art. If there is less need for seclusion, rotating and sliding lamellae can open the cocoon to the rest of the cabin to provide access to the exercise or dressing rooms on the side, or simply to allow more daylight into the VVIP area. In this way, the feeling of space is maximized by the enormous cabin width of the BBJ 777-9.

The Work&Balance area adjoining the cocoon also makes full use of the cabin width and is designed to be multifunctional. In the two flexibly rotating and sliding seats, guests here can not only gather around the large VVIP desk for audiences, but also turn and move their seats to the side divans for conversations with additional guests. A cleverly integrated swivel mechanism also allows the surface area of the tables in front of the divans to be expanded as needed. Another highlight of the design in this room are the numerous trapezoidal wall niches, for example for exhibits, which can be closed with an invisible mechanism if required and then disappear seamlessly into the linear wall structure.

High-class ambience right from the start

Adjacent to the Private Suite is the Celestial Lounge, through which passengers enter the aircraft like a lobby. With an elegantly integrated bar for refreshments and several stylish seating arrangements, it ensures the perfect first impression and provides the adequate setting for welcoming high-ranking guests on board or preparing them for meetings in the Work&Balance area. Intermediate doors shield guests aesthetically and acoustically from the outer functional doors of the aircraft cabin, creating an all-round pleasant feeling of space in abundance.

When the corridors are open, the Celestial Lounge merges almost seamlessly into the adjoining Conference&Dining area. This not only meets functions as a majlis, the traditional Middle Eastern gathering and meeting room, but is also multifunctional. The eleven individual seats can also be easily rotated from a dining or conference position at the large center table toward the surrounding divans and moved outward for conversations on the side. State-of-the-art communication and conference technology, such as monitors that can be fully retracted into the table, connects this room, and the entire aircraft, with the world.

Particularly eye-catching are the large window shades with electrochromatic dimming, which are fully integrated into the oriental-inspired design of CelestialSTAR. With their three-dimensional structure and the targeted use of indirect lighting, they continue the design principle of the side walls in a functional way, thus delivering a generous spatial impression all-around, even when closed and without daylight.

A must-have on head-of-state aircraft: Generous entourage area

Since the CelestialSTAR concept primarily targets customers from royal families in the Middle East, who usually fly around the world with large delegations, the second half of the cabin offers generous accommodation - for example – for the advisory staff and other personnel. High-ranking ministers or state guests can be accommodated in the six Deluxe Suites, modern first-class compartments that have been specially adapted to this VVIP cabin design. For additional passengers, there are also 32 seats in the so-called Executive Area, which corresponds to state-of-the-art business class seating. This is followed at the rear of the cabin by the Entourage Area, a premium economy cabin.

The CelestialSTAR cabin design is the first of its kind to be derived directly from the BBJ 777-9 design data provided by Boeing Business Jets. This ensures the technical feasibility of the design from the outset, because only one hundred percent correct dimensions were used as a basis. Lufthansa Technik will present all details of CelestialSTAR at the Dubai Airshow from 13 to 17 November, including a film and a virtual tour through the cabin at booth #1120.