A royal display of common sense: Once kings take commercial flights for official visits, will common VIPs follow?
The King and Queen of Sweden didn't just hop on to a commercial flight, but also carried their own hand baggage.
By ET Bureau | Updated:
Agencies
King Carl Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden at IGI airport.
The King and Queen of Sweden really should not set embarrassing precedents, as it makes the lives of VIPs infinitely harder than they already are. Hopping on to the next available commercial flight to India — carrying their own hand baggage, that too — just because their official jet had problems may be the politically advantageous thing to do, but it may well be cited as a precedent to compel other globetrotting notables to trim their travel budgets and carbon emissions.
Why, just this August, Prince William and his family also jumped on to a £73-a-head budget flight to Scotland even though his brother Harry showed more appropriate royal éclat by taking a private jet for holidays — and to an island to deliver a lecture on climate change. If crowned heads start evincing such plebeian concerns as expenses and global warming, mere heads of states and governments can hardly consider themselves immune hereinafter. Some things survive by convention, after all, not logic.
Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge in Dundee, Scotland.
Of course, the prospect of earning an ear-tingling, thunderous “How dare you!” from the most famous Swede right now could have also had a hand in King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia making this commendable gesture. Reprimands from other VIPs irked by their austerity would be far less daunting than a riposte from their teenaged Swedish force of nature.
Ambani's Jets, Mittal's Yachts: Luxurious Rides Of The Ultra-Rich
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Private yachts and customised planes. Check out the travel modes of the jet set that double up as meeting venues, party hangouts and spots to host special occasions.
For those Indians — and those with desi roots — who are counted among the world’s wealthy, island hopping in Europe aboard their customised 200-feet yacht or taking off in their bespoke jet across the continent are but a way of putting a monogram on their commute. Take a look at the rides of the jet set:
Private yachts and customised planes. Check out the travel modes of the jet set that double up as meeting venues, party hangouts and spots to host special occasions.For those Indians — and those with..
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In 2014, this London-based billionaire was spotted relaxing on the Greek island of Mykonos, dressed casually in a white T-shirt and baggy shorts. A newspaper report speculated that while Mittal lounged on the beach alongside other tourists, his 262-feet-long yacht Amevi was parked in the waters nearby. Some amenities on board: Sun decks, a heated swimming pool, a cinema, a gym, a massage room, a hairdressing salon as well as a unique, stabilised pool table to name a few.
In 2014, this London-based billionaire was spotted relaxing on the Greek island of Mykonos, dressed casually in a white T-shirt and baggy shorts. A newspaper report speculated that while Mittal loung..
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More than a decade ago, it was reported that Ambani gifted his wife, Nita, a private jet on her 44th birthday. It was said at the time that this jet was “custom-fitted with an office and a cabin with game consoles, music systems, satellite television and wireless communication. It also has a master bedroom, a bathroom with a range of showers and a bar with mood lighting”. As his personal ride, Ambani reportedly favours a Boeing Business Jet. “Most often, they want access to the same amenities in the air.” That’s how the airplane maker describes their customer’s requirement, a.k.a, a flying home, as that’s what’s wanted.
More than a decade ago, it was reported that Ambani gifted his wife, Nita, a private jet on her 44th birthday. It was said at the time that this jet was “custom-fitted with an office and a cabin with..
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“The ultimate guest and owner’s yacht.” That’s how the captain of Sunrays, delivered in March 2010 describes it. According to a description of the yacht available on the Oceanco’s website, “The upper deck is given over to the owner’s suite and an adjacent VIP suite that can be combined to create one expansive living area. Both suites have fold-down sea balconies. The owner’s exterior foredeck hosts a whirlpool and sunbathing area. The remainder of the yacht’s accommodations for up to 16 guests is on the main deck with one VIP stateroom and four guest cabins.” The large dining room can be converted into a video conference room with the optional use of the adjacent library. Foldable sea balconies provide guests unimpeded views while dining.
“The ultimate guest and owner’s yacht.” That’s how the captain of Sunrays, delivered in March 2010 describes it. According to a description of the yacht available on the Oceanco’s website, “The upper..
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A blog published by an apparel brand, owned by the Aditya Birla Group, documented the private jets of India’s rich and famous. The listicle included the jets owned by Birla, the Group’s chairman. It said, “Few people know that this sharp, business-minded entrepreneur also has a sweet tooth, when it comes to sweet flying machines, with his Gulf Stream (G100) and Cessna Citation...It’s believed that Citations are the world’s most established, well-liked and most trusted fleet of business jets. The jet has high-tech design of pilot-friendly flight decks and luxury cabin interiors. Birla is often spotted taking a ride in his luxurious aircrafts.”
A blog published by an apparel brand, owned by the Aditya Birla Group, documented the private jets of India’s rich and famous. The listicle included the jets owned by Birla, the Group’s chairman. It ..
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This Dubai-based billionaire’s yacht is apparently a fixture in the Mediterranean and was even spotted at the French Riviera around the time that the Cannes Film Festival was held this year, with others in the list for company. Vaswani, who is considered to be one of the richest Indians in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, was once described as he “who lives on multiple continents and sails the Mediterranean each summer in an all-purpose luxury yacht”. The logo of the Stallion Group, which he heads, adorns the yacht.
This Dubai-based billionaire’s yacht is apparently a fixture in the Mediterranean and was even spotted at the French Riviera around the time that the Cannes Film Festival was held this year, with oth..
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Tata’s love for aviation is an open secret. But he is perhaps one of the handful of billionaires in the world who not only owns a private jet, but even flies one. “A lot of people know that Ratan Tata owns a Dassault Falcon 2000 private jet but, what they do not know is that since Tata is a trained pilot, he even flies his own private jet and other jets owned by the Tata group,” said an earlier report.
Tata’s love for aviation is an open secret. But he is perhaps one of the handful of billionaires in the world who not only owns a private jet, but even flies one. “A lot of people know that Ratan Tat..
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“While watching the boat slowly taking shape in Rendsburg, we suddenly became aware of how seductive and mysterious she seemed. We just knew then that we had to call her SIREN and we are absolutely delighted with the result.” That’s the quote attributed to the owner of the 241 feet-long Siren, on the website of Nobiskrug, the German company that built the yacht. Presumably the owner quoted in question is either David Reuben or his brother Simon. Commonly referred to as the Reuben Brothers, they trace their roots back to Mumbai, and are counted among the UK’s richest individuals. Theirs is an award-winning superyacht with a foldable helicopter platform, that can double up as “a sundeck, a dance floor or a stage”.
“While watching the boat slowly taking shape in Rendsburg, we suddenly became aware of how seductive and mysterious she seemed. We just knew then that we had to call her SIREN and we are absolutely d..
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Earlier this year, this scion became the first Indian to take delivery of a fully customised, ACH145 helicopter by Airbus. While his new ride, with a seating capacity of eight is great for covering relatively shorter distances, his Gulfstream G550 aircraft is reportedly his transportation of choice for long-haul journeys. In an earlier interview, Poonawalla had said, “With a 13-hour range, it (his jet) can take me to anywhere in the world with a single halt.” The report further added, “The plane can also come in handy when he (Poonawalla) craves continental food and in case he wants to fly in Michelin star chefs to cook for his friends and him.”
Earlier this year, this scion became the first Indian to take delivery of a fully customised, ACH145 helicopter by Airbus. While his new ride, with a seating capacity of eight is great for covering r..
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