Tour Qatar Airways’ US$73 million VIP Airbus A319 private jet: the converted airliner boasts a large bedroom and luxe amenities, accommodates up to 19 guests – and it can fly about 11,265km nonstop

Oct 15 , 2023

Touring Qatar Airways’ US$73 million Airbus ACJ319 private jet provides a glimpse of how the ultra-rich travel. Photos: Insider

Qatar Airways is famous for its award-winning business class, but its private charter division Qatar Executive is also slowly earning a reputation, catering to ultra-high-net-worth individuals

Its Airbus A319 is an extravagant option, boasting a bedroom, two lavatories, dining area and loungers – and it can connect cities like Shanghai and Sydney, but the per hour cost is around US$16,500

Qatar Airways’ award-winning business class is not the airline’s only moneymaker.

Unbeknown to many fliers, Doha-based Qatar has a private charter division called Qatar Executive that caters to the airline’s “ultra-high-net-worth individuals”.

Qatar Executive is the airline’s private charter division

Founded in 2009, the wholly owned business sports a fleet of 20 customised private jets, including the Gulfstream G650ER, the recently delivered Gulfstream G700 and the Bombardier Global 5000. However, the biggest and most extravagant option is the US$73 million Airbus ACJ319, which is the business version of the manufacturer’s commercial A319 airliner. ACJ stands for Airbus Corporate Jets.

Qatar Executive actually has two versions of the plane, one with a VIP layout and one that serves as an air ambulance with two medical stations.

To get an idea of how the company’s most elite customers travel, I toured Qatar Executive’s VIP ACJ319 at the Paris Air Show in June – take a look inside.

Inside Qatar Executive’s VIP ACJ319 plane

Qatar Executive’s VIP ACJ319 features a grand entrance

According to Planespotters, the converted airliner was actually a Qatar government plane for over 20 years before being transferred to Qatar Executive for private charters – and it’s exactly what I imagine when I think of how the world’s richest people travel.

Starting at the front of the jet, customers will enter and turn right into a narrow hallway that leads to the various seating options on board. The grand entrance provides a heightened sense of privacy as the cockpit and jump seats are completely separate from the passenger area.

The bedroom in Qatar’s ACJ319 looks just like a hotel room, except in the sky

Unlike other large business planes like Donald Trump’s Boeing 757 or the Bombardier Global 7500, the bedroom on Qatar’s ACJ319 is located at the front of the plane instead of the back.