The BBJ - one of six-strong Boeing Business Jets in the Royal Jet fleet - will be put to work on corporate and VIP private charters across the globe from its base in Abu Dhabi on the eve of what is expected to be the operator’s busiest summer in its 10-year history.

“The A6-AIN is now the pride of our fleet after her return to service,” said Shane O’Hare, President & CEO of Royal Jet. “The technical expertise of our project management, operations and technical teams ensured that the tag of the world’s smartest looking BBJ stayed within Royal Jet.”

The refurbishment was designed by Edése Doret Industrial Design (EDID), the acclaimed New York aircraft interiors consultancy that is no stranger to exotic designs, to give the BBJ (A6-AIN) a new and more modern and contemporary interior, furnishings of the highest quality, luxury seats and sleeper beds.

The task of performing the multi-million upgrade fell on Sabena technics at its VIP completion centre in Bordeaux, France. As well as the cabin refurbishment, Sabena technics was responsible for performing aircraft maintenance and an in-flight entertainment AVOD upgrade, including obtaining necessary certification.

O’Hare concluded: “Both Edése Doret and Sabena technics’ experience in delivering world-class luxury interiors for different aircraft has been reflected in the A6-AIN and what has come back to us is literally a brand new plane. I salute the professionalism and in-house capability of the Royal Jet team for delivering a product of outstanding quality in the luxury global private jet business.”

The A6-AIN’s new interior has a quintessentially modern look with a number of surprising material choices, including ostrich skin on the seatbacks and bulkheads and jet glass on longitudinal bulkheads. Doret also used some new finishes, such as metals covered in a new smoked nickel coating, made possible by metal specialists Techno-coat.

The aircraft also saw a new complete cabin interior design concept that was implemented on the VIP areas as well as in the Business/Economy areas incorporating combinations of exotic wood veneers, decorative polycarbonate mirrors, finished plated metallic corner protections & trims, pure marble stone and luxurious leather patterns. The lavatory and galley areas were refurbished with more or less the same material.

In terms of technology, the upgrade fitted the A6-AIN with Custom Concept Control (CCC) In-Flight Entertainment and Cabin Management Control system. This system provides a wide range of Inflight entertainment system Audio/Video sources selection including Airshow as well as provides control of Cabin lighting System, Passenger call system, GSM and Wifi system. The system configured with passenger Graphical User Interface (GUI) at each seat screen with a support of dual language (English and Arabic) and Flight Attendant Graphics User Interface at each Flight Attendant Control Stations through the use of touch screen for allowing an intuitive control of the IFE/CMS system.

The Audio/Video On Demand (AVOD) system allows passenger to simultaneously access high-definition IFE content from any monitor in the cabin, ensuring limitless In-Flight Entertainment for every flight.

The A6-AIN is fitted with installation of a Cabin GSM (GSMConneX™) and WIFI communication system in order to provide GSM and Internet services for aircraft passengers enabling passengers to remain connected throughout their journey.

All the VIP seats incorporate an individual 10.4in HD in-seat monitor and passenger control unit (PCU), 37in HD LCD monitor on the bulkhead of the forward lounge, GSM phones connectivity with an AeroMobile GSM system, and all flight information presented in two languages – English and Arabic.

The A6-AIN BBJ was delivered to Sabena technics on August 20, 2012 and was redelivered on June 18, 2013.