Newsstand - New Gulfstream jet

Gulfstream has come out with G650:

http://www.gulfstream.com/gulfstreamg650/

It is as big as Bombardier Global Express, with slightly longer range than Global Express and G550:

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2008/03/13/222173/gulfstream-g650-how-it-compares.html

Does G650 cause a significant decrease of first class demand?

why would it?

definitely impressive though. could do JFK-HKG, which looks like #9 in terms of distance by city pairs, including EK's new DXB-LAX.

why would it?

By offering an alternative.

definitely impressive though. could do JFK-HKG, which looks like #9 in terms of distance by city pairs, including EK's new DXB-LAX.

It still cannot match the range of B777-200LR, or A340-500, or the longer uses of B747-400 or A340-600 or B777-300ER.

But Boeing Business Jet and Airbus Corporate Jetliner cannot do it, either. The only thing which can fly as far as a commercial widebody is a private widebody.

However, G650 cuts into those margins somewhat... The cabin width of Bombardier Global Express and G650 is half the width of the double-aisle A340, so you can be as comfortable as in first class - and more comfortable yet.

By offering an alternative.



But flying private is not as easy as going online and buying a ticket from your preferred carrier, especially so for long distances and/or travel involving congested airports (let me know if you can find a morning landing slot into HKG with 2 days' notice) or countries that have strict visa regimes (e.g. imagine trying to get last-minute crew visas for a bunch of people to enter Saudi Arabia or DPRK; even the US could well be a problem nowadays). It may be a good way of flying regionally to the exact place you're going or between cities without direct service, but IMHO for anything longer economies of scale come into play...

related >
http://flyertalk.com/forum/showpost.php?p=9207196&postcount=43
http://flyertalk.com/forum/showpost.php?p=9221917&postcount=46
http://www.beyoncestar.com/beyonce-hires-private-jet-for-luggage/

graraps, you might be surprised by the clout of major fractional/charter companies. i also seem to recall the lowest "minimum notice" being 4 hours.

By offering an alternative.

A G650 is not an alternative to first class. The older, smaller G550 is $8-10,000 an hour for charter. Unless you fill the plane paid F for all is cheaper.

The smaller biz-jets are competition to F in time/money, but not in service.

graraps, you might be surprised by the clout of major fractional/charter companies. i also seem to recall the lowest "minimum notice" being 4 hours.

I am sure they have more contacts than a normal private individual, and 4 hours is fine for the availability of the actual craft...But for many of the longer routes there are some obstacles that are nigh on impossible to overcome unless you've got time (read days) on your side.

somewhat related >

http://www.elite-travelerdigital.com/elitetraveler/20080304/?pg=170&pm=2

Aerion has received 19+ letters of intent for their upcoming $80MM supersonic private jet, after they started accepting them at the Dubai Air Show (last Nov 11>15)