Summary
- The Boeing 767 is popular for cargo due to capacity and efficiency but can be converted into a luxurious private jet.
- Canadian Rapper Drake is given free use of Cargojet’s private Boeing 767 named ‘Air Drake.’
- A private Boeing 767 interior can include private suites, living areas, offices, a bedroom with an ensuite bathroom and shower, and an entertainment room.
TheBoeing 767was first introduced in 1982 and has continued success as a jetliner operating transatlantic routes for many airlines over the years. Although it is still a workhorse aircraft for some airlines, it is often used for cargo due to its capacity and lower operating costs. Seen as popular and reliable, the aircraft can also be refitted as aprivate jet. What Boeing 767s can be found in the world of business aviation?
Drake and Cargojet
Of course, themost famous private Boeing 767belongs to the Canadian Rapper, Drake. Formally, cargo airline Cargojet owns the aircraft and received it in 2019 but gave Drake free use of it. It is named ‘Air Drake,’ and he uses it for his busy touring schedule as well as holidays.
It is estimated that Cargojet spent between $80 and $100 million to customize the aircraft. However, they consider it free publicity for their airline, whilst Drake jets around the world.
Livery and interior
The Boeing 767-200ER has a distinctive blue sky livery designed by the late Louis Vuitton creative designer Virgil Abloh. It features Drake’s own company logo of an owl and “OVO,” standing for October’s Very Own. The aircraft, registered as N767CJ, was first built by Boeing in 1996. It has General Electric CF6 engines.
The interior features three private suites and two living areas, as well as a king-size bed and a bathroom with a shower. There is also a business lounge and entertainment room to suit his every need. The floors are carpeted, and there are top-quality furnishings and flat-screen TVs. There are gold and wooden surfaces and plush velvet divans, and the interior utilizes hues of beige and light purple.
Size and strategies
The Boeing 767 has a 45-passenger business configuration, so there is plenty of room for guests. A traditional Boeing 767 airliner would typically hold over 200 passengers in a two-class configuration with 2/3/2 economy class seating. Since the partnership, the aircraft has flown over 11,346 flight hours, so Cargojet’s strategy certainly worked. The aircraft now has a value of around $200 million. Drake regularly features his jet and guests on various social media channels and, therefore, publically advertises the airline.
Boeing 767 general specification
Classification |
Airliner |
---|---|
Seats |
Up to 351 |
Cruise Speed |
459–486 kn |
Range |
3225 NM |
Luggage Capacity |
5,622 cubic ft |
Interior Height |
9.4 ft |
Interior Width |
15.5 ft |
Interior Length |
132.4 ft |
Variations of the original Boeing 767 type
The most common models of the 767 include:
- 767-200ER: The original model of the 767, it is the smallest and has the lowest passenger capacity. It can seat between 181 and 218 passengers.
- 767-300ER: A stretched version of the 767-200, it can seat between 245 and 440 passengers.
- 767-400ER: An even longer version of the 767-300, it has an extended range and can seat between 275 and 440 passengers.
These figures give us a clearer picture in terms of the aircraft size and how it is possible to create a very large private jet with the capability to be fitted with many unique rooms and areas, precise to the owner’s specifications and chosen configuration.
Other owners?
Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich previously owned a Boeing 767 aircraft valued at $170 million. His Boeing 767-33AER aircraft famously has a gold gilt banqueting hall for 30 people and an anti-missile defense system. The aircraft, nicknamed ‘The Bandit’ due to its distinctive cockpit window paintwork, was designed by yacht designer Andrew Winch. The Boeing 767 had a full kitchen galley, an office, and, of course, a bedroom with an ensuite bathroom. The interior featured chestnut furniture and gold trims. He later replaced it with a 787 Dreamliner.
Photo: Aleksander Markin | Wikimedia Commons
John H. Ruiz, an attorney and TV star based in Miami, also has a Boeing 767. The billionaire purchased it in 2022 and had it outfitted especially for him by VIP Completions. The Boeing 767-200ER can seat 33 passengers and sleep 17 passengers. It has two staterooms, two lounges, and four bathrooms. The aircraft also has a private cinema, a dining room, and even a DJ station. The aircraft is in shades of white, taupe, and gray.
Alternatives in the VIP sector
Some private jet operators like the reliability of the Boeing 767 and will invest in refitting the aircraft with a VIP interior. These are suited to sports teams, large travel groups, and recording artists who are going on tour with their entourage for worldwide concerts. These are often fitted with 90 to 100 lie-flat business jet seats or sometimes less, depending on the rest of the configuration.
Chartering a private Boeing 767 costs between $18,000 and $25,000 per hour. It is Boeing’s fifth-largest aircraft and one of the largest private jets in existence today. It is also one of the world’s most expensive private jets. Certainly, these airliners converted into business jets allow for the very best and have become a form of ‘flying mansion.’