The sky’s the limit for business class

Another millionaire has ordered a private aircraft for his personal use though, intriguingly, his identity is no known.

Online newspaper VnExpress said it is a seven-seat aircraft with a bathroom, dining room, and bedroom specially designed for the owner.

Though the owner asked not to be named and declined to reveal its cost, he said the aircraft, which can do long-haul flights to Europe, will be delivered by 2012 at the latest.

News of the purchase came a couple of days after the chairman of Hoa Phat Group, Tran Dinh Long, received his US$4.9 million aircraft in late July.

Long told the media he will use the six-seat Eurocopter EC-135P2i on domestic trips, especially to the Ha Noi-headquartered group’s mines, since it can take off and land virtually anywhere.

Long became the second Vietnamese businessman to own a private aircraft after the chairman of Hoang Anh Gia Lai Group, Doan Nguyen Duc, got a $7 million, 12-seat Beechcraft King Air B350 in May 2008.

Duc also obtained a pilot’s licence to operate short-haul flights of around 2,500 kilometres.

A year buying it, Duc said the aircraft helps save a lot of time and increase his productivity.

Duc did not have to pay a luxury tax but in April 2009 the Government unveiled a tax of 30 per cent on aircraft.

The law does not prohibit individuals from owning private aircraft provided they meet safety requirements.

It is conceivable that the number of businesspeople buying private aircraft will increase in the coming years.

Owning aircraft is a trend that is seen in many other countries. In China there are nearly 200 private planes, according to the Guangzhou Daily.

Tags: private aircraft, Vietnam millionaires