November 26, 2021, 1:41 pm | Read time: 3 minutes
Absurd proposals about new luxury airplanes might be expected from billionaires–but certainly less so from traditional companies like Lufthansa. Yet, Lufthansa Technik, a subsidiary, recently unveiled a truly extravagant design for a plane. TRAVELBOOK shows what the “Explorer” could look like.
On the sea, mega-yachts have been booming for some time for those to whom money is no object. The bigger, more luxurious, and more extravagant, the better. This trend could soon extend not only on water but also in the air–at least according to Lufthansa. The subsidiary Lufthansa Technik has developed the “Explorer,” a luxury aircraft for the super-rich. And it comes with all sorts of (more or less sensible) bells and whistles.
The basis for the Explorer is an Airbus A330, preferably an old cargo plane. This is important because the loading ramp is intended to be used as an extendable sun deck. When the plane, which is more like a mobile luxury hotel, lands at its destination, the owners can relax there. “At a height of about four meters above the tarmac, you have a unique view of the airport and its surroundings,” says Lufthansa Technik AG. The experience is certainly unique–how desirable it is to reside in the middle of the tarmac is another question.
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Virtual Reality in the Interior
But you don’t necessarily have to go to the sun deck. Inside the Explorer, Lufthansa presents an extravagant concept. There are large areas on the ceiling and sides for virtual projections. Owners could, for example, create the illusion of a night sky or an aquarium. This allows for creating the “right mood for any occasion,” according to Lufthansa.
This video shows what the interior of the Explorer could look like:
In the Explorer, alongside sleeping and guest rooms, bathroom, office, dining, and conference areas, a so-called “multifunctional room” is planned at the rear of the plane. There, a gym or wellness area could be set up–ensuring nothing is lacking during the flight. The current concept is designed for up to twelve VIP passengers, but theoretically, up to 47 passengers could be accommodated in the Explorer. However, some areas, such as the conference area or multifunctional room, would then give way to crew spaces.
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Either way: So far, it is neither known how much the luxury aircraft would cost nor whether there are any interested parties. It is therefore far from certain whether the Explorer will ever take off–although Lufthansa Technik emphasizes that it would at least be technically possible.