Grand airline designs

(CNN) -- The A380 superjumbo can cram 800 passengers in an all-economy layout. On Singapore Airline's version, 471 people sit comfortably in its three classes. But when Saudi billionaire Prince Walid bin Talal bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud collects his bespoke A380, less than 50 will luxuriate in its 6,000-square feet of space.

Prince Alwaleed's order of a VIP version of the new double-deck airliner -- the first private order for Airbus -- was announced at the Dubai Air Show this week.

"Like all of us, when we buy a new product, we want to trade up to something better," says Airbus spokesperson, David Velupillai. The A380 "Flying Palace", as it has been named, is certainly bigger with 50 percent more floor space than the Boeing 747-400, that Prince Alwaleed currently makes do with.

Features he may wish to choose include private bedrooms with showers, a movie theatre, a gym with Jacuzzi as well as conference rooms. He'll also need a flight crew of around 15 to operate the luxury jetliner.

Following the Saudi prince's ostentatious purchase, deals by other multi-billionaires are likely to surface.

Airbus has confirmed there are more VIP orders in the pipeline, but would not disclose who from. Contrary to rumors in the French press, Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich was not one, Velupillai told CNN.

The company sees a market for about 30 very large VIP jets, of which it expects the A380 Flying Palace to win at least a half. "There are about 25 VIP and government 747s in service today," he says. "They will need to be replaced one day, and there will also be increased demand."

David Lacy, MD of aircraft charter firm, Flightplan says his company is seeing an increase in bookings for personal charters as more travelers shirk the security hassles and time constraints of large airports.

The only factor restraining growth, he says, is getting hold of aircraft. "Demand is outstripping supply at the moment."

Most orders for private jets, however, are for smaller craft in the category of the Learjet or Gulfstream that come with a more modest price tag of between $2-5 million. Airbus and Boeing's VIP versions of the A320 and the 737 sell for around $70 million.

Customizing an A380 for private use is on a different league of investment. The plane itself will cost in the region of $300 million but that doesn't include the millions to be lavished on fitting out the plane. Lacy says costs could easily reach $20-30 million for fittings. Other experts have estimated prices could reach $150 million. As Lacy says, "the sky is not the limit."

Germany's Lufthansa Technik has already designed renderings to give prospective VIP customers an idea of the sort of luxury they can command. See pictures of the renderings. »

Features include spacious bedrooms on the plane's upper deck, reception areas, a bar or two, offices, private dining rooms and a gym complete with steam bath and exercise machines.

On the lower decks VIP guests can meet in lounges or conference areas. And, freed of the burden of cargo, lower areas can be transformed into yet more recreation space, perhaps even a cinema.

This sort of excess is just another purchase for bin Talal, the world's 13th richest person. His wealth down not just come from oil, however. He is founder and chairman of financial investment enterprise, Kingdom Holding Company (KHC) that has assets of around US$ 25 billion and stakes in major corporations including Time Warner, Apple, PepsiCo and Walt Disney Co.

The plane will be delivered to bin Talal in 2010, but it is expected to take another two years for the cabin to be fitted. Big things come to those who wait. E-mail to a friend

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