Aircraft
'Royal Barge' Bizliner Robustness Tested by Pandemic
Covid has pressured bizliner activity in the Middle East, but the aircraft remain durable.
In the Middle East the royal family and government delegations have tended to travel in size, giving rise to the phenomenon dubbed "the Royal barge bizliners." (Photo: David McIntosh)
In the Middle East the royal family and government delegations have tended to travel in size, giving rise to the phenomenon dubbed "the Royal barge bizliners." (Photo: David McIntosh)

With extremely large cabin sizes a traditional feature of the Middle East business jet market, AIN sought to canvass opinion on whether there has been a regional downsizing of aircraft types due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Traditional Royal Family and government delegations have tended in the past to travel in size, giving rise to the phenomenon dubbed "the royal barge bizliners."

While the pandemic has placed more emphasis on "travel" than the "travel in style" to which top-notch delegations subscribe, there does seem to be evidence that it will take more than a pandemic to unseat VIP-configured airliners in favor of long-range traditional business jets.

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