One of the great things about having a private jet is the ability to truly personalize it to make it your own. Your aircraft is a place you will spend a lot of time each month; it should be a space that is comfortable and customized to your own styles and tastes.
While you can completely overhaul your entire pre-owned jet when you buy it, choose every single fabric and colour used, and upgrade every system, there are some relatively cost effective ways to put your mark on the interior of your jet and have it feel relaxing and special.
Carpet
Changing out the carpet is one of the most dramatic, cost effective changes you can make, and it will affect the entire look of the aircraft. It will instantly look cleaner and newer. In aircraft terms, changing a carpet is relatively cost effective, and because it is such a prevalent part of the interior, a new carpet will completed change the appearance of the aircraft. Also, as the carpet gets the most wear of almost any part of the interior, a new carpet provides the biggest contrast to the before and after appearance.
Seats
There are two main options when it comes to seats. The first is to re-dye the leather. This is a process that is becoming more and more sophisticated and can be extremely cost effective. Re-dying a seat costs anywhere from 10% to 20% of the cost of recovering it and can really make the seats look fantastic. However, in general they can only really be re-dyed in the same colour as they currently are.
The next option is to fully recover the seats. This gives you the option to completely change the colour of the seats to a leather colour of your choosing. New seat colours can make your jet feel more personal. Importantly, there are many options that you can choose from including coloured piping, insignias in the headrests, and dual tone leather. The downside is that recovering the seat is much more expensive than re-dying and reequire more down time.
Soft-Furnishings
Including nice throw pillows and soft blankets provide an instant sense of comfort and relaxation. They can also bring colour into the cabin which can sometimes be quite muted in colour. Choosing soft furnishings in your favourite colour scheme is an easy way to know something is yours.
Food and Beverages
Keep your galley stocked with your favourite food and beverages. Knowing a tall glass of something or a special treat is onboard will make your jet a place you are excited to be. Speak with your management company about your catering preferences so they can accommodate your desires and cravings.
Woodwork
One of the most expensive interior changes you can make is to the woodwork, especially if you are changing the entire woodwork (called re-veneering). However, changing the woodwork to your chosen wood will make a huge difference to the look of the cabin. Instead of re-veneering, you can re-lacquer the wood to boost the shine and buff out any surface marks. Woodwork is a time-consuming process however, and it is best to do this during major inspections when the plane will be down for a prolonged period of time.
Exterior Paint
Repainting the exterior in your colour choice and style is an exciting way to put your mark on your jet. It will require 4-5 weeks of downtime, but will provide a lot of pride when you see it sitting on the ramp.
Your aircraft broker and operator will know many good vendors and shops to get quotes on these projects. The more your jet looks and feels like yours, the more you will enjoy flying on it.
