Inside the booming industry of private jet design

According to the latest Forbes Billionaire's List, there are 1,741 members of the ultra-wealthy club around the world, so it is unsurprising that private jet travel is booming.

Saudi Arabian Prince Alwaleed bin Talal al-Saud is famous for his stable of private jets, including a modified Boeing 747 and an Airbus 321 and even an Airbus A380 - which normally seats 800 passengers but has been completely customised to the Prince's needs.

Ensuring that the private jets of the super-rich have everything they could ever need is big business.

Prince Alwaleed's A380 is said to have a marble-finished Turkish bath, a garage for his Rolls-Royce and even a dedicated prayer area, in which computer-generated mats move to point towards Mecca.

Other futuristic designs include all the perks of a superyacht in the skies, from grand dining rooms and even casino areas to aquariums filled with tropical fish and family rooms.

According to private membership charter club Solairus Aviation, the average age of those using private jets is dropping. 

The company explains: 'Travel advisors report that the number of affluent travelers between the ages of 40 and 55 has skyrocketed. Not only that, more well-off families in their 30s and 40s are planning vacation and adventure trips with their young children. The reason: they love to travel and want their children to experience the world.'

There is no end to the extras that wealthy travellers can request. 

(dailymail.co.uk)