Cash is no longer king for some buyers who are looking to make use of cryptocurrency for multimillion-dollar purchases and one aircraft sales firm is now accepting bitcoin as a form of payment.

Aviatrade just introduced a new payment platform for its aircraft inventory allowing buyers to pay with any kind of cryptocurrency and the first plane available for purchase with the virtual money is a Gulfstream G650ER that just came on the market. The six-year-old plane has spent time in New Zealand and Asia but is now returning to its birthplace at Gulfstream's headquarters in Savannah, Georgia as it undergoes routine inspections and awaits a new owner.

The G650ER is the American private jet manufacturer's current flagship as the largest aircraft in its lineup with famous owners including Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos. The 7,500-nautical mile range of the aircraft makes it a favorite among frequent intercontinental jet setters who don't have to make as many time-wasting fuel stops when using the G650ER.  

The use of cryptocurrency has soared in developing countries with unreliable currency and the wealthy are also turning to virtual wallets when making high-level purchases. Using cash to buy a plane would be subject to cross-border restrictions for some countries, especially when the purchase price for this Gulfstream is $40 million, according to Aviatrade's president, Philip Rushton.

Take a look at the plane that can be bought with bitcoin. 

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The G650ER is Gulfstream's largest aircraft currently in service and its long-range leader.

Source: Gulfstream

The extended range version of the G650, the ultra-modern G650ER can fly up to 7,500 nautical miles between city pairs including New York-Nairobi, London-Honolulu, and Los Angeles-Sydney.

Source: Gulfstream

The G650ER currently for sale by Aviatrade began its life as a G650 only to be upgraded to the long-range variant, a process that normally costs around $2 million, according to Rushton, and provides an additional 500 nautical miles of range.

Source: Gulfstream

Two Rolls-Royce BR725 engines power the aircraft and enable a top speed of Mach .925.

Source: Gulfstream

The six-year-old aircraft has an asking price of $40 million as it has less than 1200 hours on it.

Source: Aviatrade

This G650ER can seat 14 passengers comfortably across three living spaces.

Source: Aviatrade

Eight club seats and two three-person divans make up the seating configuration, five seats short of the aircraft's maximum capacity of 19 but typical for privately-owned aircraft intended solely for owner use and not charter.

Source: Aviatrade

The forward living area is comprised of two pairs of club seats that face each other, ideal for sitting during take-off and landing.

Source: Aviatrade

In-flight entertainment comes in the form of three 26-inch screens spread across the cabin and four personal screens at each of the forward club seats.

Source: Aviatrade

Passengers can watch movies or use the aircraft's three external cameras for a more unique vantage point.

Source: Aviatrade

The dining and conference area then occupies the center of the nearly 47-foot-long cabin.

Source: Aviatrade

Passengers can retreat here to enjoy a meal or, if the flight is for business purposes, have a meeting with colleagues.

Source: Aviatrade

Directly opposite the table is a long credenza – ideal for holding meal trays – with a retractable television screen.

Source: Aviatrade

The table can also be lowered during downtimes and mattresses placed on top for a small two-person bed...

Source: Aviatrade

Or passengers can retreat to the rear stateroom.

Source: Aviatrade

Occupying the private room are two divans that can each be used as a bed.

Source: Aviatrade

Both can also be joined to form an 82-inch bed that can sleep two, though passengers not sleeping on it will be temporarily blocked from using the master lavatory.

Source: Aviatrade

Otherwise, the two divans can each seat three people.

Source: Aviatrade

The cabin has dividing walls and a pocket door to keep it separate from the rest of the aircraft but as an added touch, sound-absorbent walls help keep the volume down in case the other passengers get too loud.

Source: Aviatrade

This G650ER has a forward galley and flight attendant workstation instead of one in the rear.

Source: Aviatrade

A forward galley offers additional privacy for passengers in the back of the plane.

Source: Aviatrade

It also features a convection oven and microwave for crafting meals and heating catering orders on longer flights.

Source: Aviatrade

Two lavatories can also be found onboard the aircraft, one in the front and another in the back.

Source: Aviatrade

The master bathroom located behind the main stateroom is the largest and features a full sink and toilet.

Source: Aviatrade

The forward is slightly smaller but does come with its own window.

Source: Aviatrade

The business end of the aircraft is a standard G650ER cockpit with high-definition displays for the pilots.

Source: Aviatrade

The captain's side also has a heads-up display, helping enable the aircraft to fly into challenging weather conditions such as fog or low clouds when landing.

Source: Aviatrade

For longer flights, a crew rest area allows for a required extra pilot to tag along, allowing the next owner to make full use of the G650ER's long-range capabilities.

Source: Aviatrade

Interior and exterior alterations aside, the only difference between this G650ER and others on the market is that this one can be bought with bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies.

Source: Aviatrade

• Private jet operators are reporting that their long-range jets have been the most affected during the pandemic has international travel has been greatly restricted by world governments.
• Americans are only being welcomed into a handful of countries outside North America with most also requiring proof of a negative COVID-19 test to avoid a quarantine. 
• Repatriation flights have largely kept these aircraft flying with travelers still making their way home nearly six months into the pandemic. 
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

A key selling point in private aviation is convenience and the ability to fly non-stop on routes not served by the airlines is of paramount importance to business executives and leisure travelers alike. 

The latest wide-cabin aircraft from Gulfstream and Bombardier pride themselves on being able to fly further than any private jets in their class, connecting city pairs previously only accessible with long-range commercial jets. Bombardier's Global 7500 and Gulfstream's upcoming G700, for example, can fly upwards of 7,500 nautical miles or around 17 hours in duration.

But Americans traveling 17 hours in any direction from the 50 states, however, will likely find themselves in a foreign country being turned away rather than welcomed with open arms, even if their arrival is on a multi-million dollar private jet. International travel restrictions have greatly hindered where Americans can travel with fears of the novel coronavirus keeping some borders shut.

A group of wealthy vacationers from Colorado discovered that lesson the hard way in July after flying to Sardinia, Italy. Authorities on the island – around 400 miles from the epicenter of the European outbreak in northern Italy– wouldn't let any of the American passengers leave the airport as they waited 14 hours for the crew to rest before leaving the following day. 

Despite the restrictions, private jet operators have said that their largest aircraft have found ways to remain active.

Here's how operators are making the most of their largest aircraft during the pandemic. 

Repatriation flights

March saw world governments announce surprise travel restrictions with little notice that stranded some travelers on the wrong side of international borders. Commercial airlines and private jet operators alike were scrambling to adjust their flying and even to this day, travelers are still making their way home and some are relying on private jets to do so.

"It's been an interesting phenomenon to watch some repatriations where you've got customers in different parts of the world who want to either get home or bring family members home," Flexjet CEO Michael Silvestro told Business Insider.

Long-range aircraft are ideal for these flights as to avoid a stop in a third-party country, which could potentially create more complications for the passengers and crew. Every country has different rules regarding who they let in and though repatriation flights are typically granted for humanitarian reasons, that doesn't make them easier to arrange.

"It's not that it's impossible to do, it's just difficult to do so most people are just saying, we're not doing it," Silver Air CEO Jason Middleton told Business Insider.

A handful of countries outside of North America are open to Americans right now but most require a special dispensation for entry including proof of a negative COVID-19 test or positive antibody test, so operators are preparing their aircraft for any scenario. 

"What we've done is, we've actually equipped the Globals tests that have a guaranteed 24-hour turn time that can be self-administered, mailed in, and then the results provided within a 24 hour period," XOJET Aviation President and COO Kevin Thomas told Business Insider. 

Travelers wouldn't likely be able to book same-day flights for foreign countries that require proof of the negative test but it does make it easier for their aircraft to cross the border upon arrival and avoid potential concerns with local health authorities. 

California's Silver Air was actually able to perform two separate repatriations in one round-trip, flying a Portuguese resident from the US to Europe and then picking up an American in the UK to bring back home to the US.

"If we're repatriating somebody into a country, we can do that pretty much anywhere in the world right now," Middleton said.

Executives noted that the aircraft aren't currently being used for overseas leisure flights since those trips are still heavily restricted and often require quarantine upon arrival.

Popularity in the domestic market

Long-range aircraft are still popular within the US as they often have the greatest number of seats short of an airliner and are useful for large groups traveling together. Coast-to-coast flights are a favorite in the domestic market because passengers don't have to worry about potential fuel stops along the route, as is the case with midsize and some super-midsize aircraft. 

Operators are even reporting that coast-to-coast flights between New York and Los Angeles have remained popular despite travel restrictions imposed by certain states that are impacting visitors and residents alike. New York, for example, is requiring a 14-day quarantine for arrivals from more than half of the US, as well as some US territories. 

"New York to Florida, New York to California, California to New York, DC to the West Coast, those are typically our strong routes," Thomas said, "with Teterboro obviously being our busiest airport across the network."

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Wealthy jet setters preparing for the world to re-open are buying planes now to be ready for the moment they can use them. Less than 50 countries are currently open to Americans but a likely COVID-19 vaccine within the next year will likely accelerate the fall of artificial travel barriers and allow US passport holders to embark on extended journeys again.

The Global 6500 is among the newest aircraft from Bombardier having just entered service in September 2019. The Canadian manufacturer entered three aircraft into service in the past two years from its popular long-range product line including the Global 7500, Global 5500, and Global 6500.

Each pushes the boundaries what was thought possible with a private jet and improves upon Bombardier's already tried and true designs. Bombardier announced the Global 6500's production alongside the Global 5500 as upgraded versions of their popular predecessors, the Global 6000 and Global 5500, respectively, with enhancements in range, efficiency, and interior amenities. 

Aircraft sales and acquisition firm Jetcraft recently took delivery of a Global 6500 in mid-September as its original owner opted not to take delivery of the aircraft. The brand-new aircraft only had around 25 hours on it at the time of our visit and just one flight from Hartford, Connecticut to Morristown, New Jersey following its delivery.

Take a look inside this factory-fresh Global 6500.

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The Global 6500 is the upgraded version of the Global 6000, formerly the flagship of Bombardier's private jet fleet before it was supplanted by the Global 7500.

Though the two are the same size and exterior design – appearing identical from the outside – they couldn't be any more different in terms of capabilities.

The Global 6500 boasts 6,600 nautical miles of range, a 600 nautical miles further than its predecessor, making it the second longest-ranged aircraft in the Global lineup behind the 7,500.

Read More: A businessman is selling his brand-new Bombardier Global 7500 for $70 million, the only one on the market. Take a look inside the 3-month-old jet.

Source: Bombardier

Enabling that enhancement in range and a 13% improvement in fuel burn is a pair of fuel-efficient Rolls Royce Pearl engines...

Source: Business Traveller

And a re-designed wing with aerodynamically friendly winglets.

Officially known as BR700-710D5-21 engines, or Pearl 15s, they each offer 15,125 pounds of thrust. That's 375 pounds more per engine than the Global 6000's.

Source: Business Insider

The improvements also allow the Global 6500 to cruise at a maximum speed of Mach .90, just slightly faster than the Global 6000 which tops out at Mach .89.

Source: Bombardier

The aircraft is undoubtedly massive but its size is immediately felt when walking up the embedded air stairs, the design of which brings passengers directly into the plane as they ascend.

Inside the plane, its interior is divided into three living areas seating 13 passengers in total.

It's four seats shy of the Global 6500's maximum capacity of 17 but as Jetcraft's Northeast Sales Director Dan Kilkeary told Business Insider, most flights will often have a mere handful of passengers onboard despite its ability to hold more.

Source: Bombardier

The first living area is the Club Suite, a four-seat space housing the principal seats.

This communal area is ideal for sitting during take-off and landing or just relaxing in general.

The Bombardier Nuage seats are featured on the aircraft with improvements in ease of movement and ergonomics, such as a tilting headrest and a floating base.

The seat controls are a mixture of mechanical and electric with the ability to recline and extend a leg rest.

They can also recline fully flat to create a bed.

The seats are moveable to face inward if sitting with a large group.

And each pair comes with a retractable desk that's stored in the sidewall.

Every seat in this space is also a window seat.

A press of a button automatically opens and closes each shade, with the entire system also controlled via a mobile application or the master controls in the forward galley.

Small storage compartments can be found along the sidewall housing outlets, USB charging ports, and inputs for the aircraft's entertainment system.

This compartment controls and houses one of the many iPod Touch control systems that come with the aircraft.

The devices connect to the aircraft's WiFi system and allow the user to take over functions in the cabin including entertainment, climate, and lighting.

The user simply selects their seat location and can control the window shades, flight attendant call button, and personal reading light.

It can also control features for the entire plane, including closing all the window shades and dimming the lights.

In the center of the cabin, the Conference Suite also consists of four seats though on opposite ends of a large table.

It's a multi-purpose space, with the table acting as a dining room table during mealtimes, a conference table for meeting, and even a large desk for an executive to utilize.

The table can also be lowered to create a bed that sleeps two.

Opposite the table is a credenza that can similarly be used for a variety of purposes including to house a buffet of food during meals or an entertainment screen that can be placed here to watch movies while eating.

It's mostly used for storage in its current form, ideal for holding pillows, blankets, extra dishes, or snacks.

The final compartment is the Private Suite, a stateroom-like room intended for rest and relaxation.

Five passengers can be seated in this space across a three-person divan and two club seats but it's meant for comfort over density.

The divan can easily extend into a bed during downtimes, ideal for the ultra-long-range routes that the Global 6500 is capable of flying.

But each user can use the room as desired. Kilkeary explained that on one flight that he was escorting for a potential buyer, the chairman and president of a company used this room as an office while their employees occupied the front two spaces.

And just like the Club Suite, there's an extendable table available between the two seats...

As well as another entertainment screen capable of attaching to a computer to give presentations. It's just one of two 23-inch 4K screens in the aircraft.

The cabin is largely open but privacy is achievable.

The Private Suite can easily be closed off with a pocket door located in the divider...

And the Club Suite also has a door to close off the forward galley.

The Global 6500 also comes standard with two lavatories: an en suite bathroom behind the Private Suite and a smaller lavatory towards the front of the aircraft.

The en suite bathroom comes with a toilet, large sink, and closet space, as well as its own windows.

On the opposite end of the aircraft is the forward galley, the main workstation for the cabin attendant where meals and drinks are crafted.

Two convection ovens/microwaves allow for cooking full gourmet meals instead of just reheating pre-cooked catering orders.

The flight range of which the Global 6500 is capable means that two or more meals can be served in a single flight for each passenger and the dual system allows for the cabin attendant to serve all 13 if need be, plus the crew.

An air chiller also keeps beverages cold instead of relying on an ice bin.

The cockpit is also state-of-the-art with Bombardier's Vision flight deck coming standard on the aircraft.

Four massive high definition screens feed pilots information with external sensors offering combined synthetic and infrared vision to see through the clouds.

Most aircraft have one or the other but the Global 6500 has both visible from the heads-up display.

The system utilizes sensors in the aircraft's nose to outline terrain and airport features allowing the aircraft to fly in conditions that would be dangerous for other planes.

Unlike some of Bombardier's other aircraft, this cockpit utilizes the standard W-shaped yoke found on most aircraft.

A crew rest compartment is also standard on the aircraft to carry a third pilot when the flight time requires an additional crewmember.

The Global 6500 sells for $56 million if bought directly from Bombardier. What Jetcraft can offer, however, is faster delivery and the ability to trade in an existing aircraft and put that value towards the Global 6500.

Source: Reuters

Jetcraft will have to convince buyers that a long-range aircraft is the right investment as the pandemic still rages. The sales formula when selling aircraft has changed with salespeople having to become more knowledgeable about the safety aspects of each plane.

The firm is also flying planes to the buyers for viewing and coating the aircraft it shows with a disinfectant called MicroShield360 and utilizing social distancing procedures during viewings.

Kilkeary also believes the buyer will likely be an individual rather than a corporation since the latter has more travel and purchasing restrictions due to the pandemic.

Airbus has a new private jet for sale.

The Airbus Corporate Jet 220, also called the "TwoTwenty," is the private jet version of the popular A220 airliner. A step above the likes of Gulfstream, Bombardier, and Dassault, Airbus said the driving force behind the project was that private flyers were seeking larger aircraft, hence the manufacturer's new designation: "the xtra large biz jet." 

Airbus teamed up with private jet operator and aircraft interior completion firm Comlux to come up with the first luxurious design, incorporating recent innovations in cabin technology to create a truly ultra-modern private jet. Space wasn't an issue as the airliner-sized cabin allows for massive living areas and even includes a shower and king-size bed.

As one of the newest aircraft in the skies, its buyers can enjoy the cost savings that come with an aircraft as advanced as the A220. Fuel consumption, for example, is reduced by 25% on the ACJ220 compared to previous-generation airliners thanks to new engines and other aerodynamic features.

Airbus' gamble is already paying off as six orders have been placed for the jets. Comlux has the first two orders while an undisclosed buyer has the next four. 

Take a look inside the $81 million ACJ TwoTwenty that will be roaming the skies within the next three years. 

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The A220 on which the ACJ220 is based has the title of Airbus' smallest commercial aircraft and also one of its newest.

Source: Airbus

Airbus had acquired the product line from Bombardier in 2018 for only one Canadian dollar as the jet's initial manufacturer was under threat from Boeing, who was challenging a deal that Delta Air Lines had made for the aircraft.

Read More: Boeing started a trade dispute with Canada, but Airbus and Alabama ended up being the winners

Airbus was given control of the program and Bombardier eventually bowed out entirely, leaving Europe's leading manufacturer with a new jet, the design and development of which it didn't have to really pay for.

Delta Air Lines flyers might recognize the plane as it's been flying in the US since February 2019.

It will soon also join the fleets of JetBlue Airways...

And David Neeleman's Breeze Airways.

Read More: JetBlue founder David Neeleman's new airline will fly the Airbus A220, the controversial plane Boeing tried to keep out of the US

The popularity in the airline realm is largely due to its advances in fuel efficiency and passenger comfort.

Two Pratt & Whitney PW1000G geared turbofan engines, the use of lightweight composites, and other aerodynamically friendly features give the jet better fuel consumption by 25% compared to previous-generation models, making it cheaper to fly and boosting its range.

Source: Airbus

And on the inside, airline passengers are offered an ultra-quiet cabin with mood-lighting.

Even the cockpit was given a high-tech upgrade with massive display screens and sidestick controls.

The success of the A220 in the airline world nearly guaranteed a second-life as a private jet.

Enter, the Airbus Corporate Jet 220, also known as the TwoTwenty, based on the smaller A220-100.

Airbus unveiled the jet on Tuesday, citing growing demand for extra-wide cabin aircraft.

It's the latest in the Airbus Corporate Jet lineup that includes private jet variants of popular airliners including the Airbus A320neo...

Read More: See inside the world's newest private jet: a $110 million converted Airbus airliner that looks like a flying penthouse apartment

A319...

Read More: See inside an Airbus airliner turned private jet, which has a master bedroom, 2 lounges, and a dining area

And A350 XWB.

Read More: Germany just took delivery of its new VIP plane that will fly the country's top government officials – take a look

The interior completion arm of Switzerland's Comlux was chosen for the cabin product.

The 18-seat design includes six living areas across a 785-square-foot cabin.

The forward livings areas are open-concept featuring lie-flat club seats and divans with plenty of legroom.

A six-seat conference and dining space then comprise the next living area as one moves further into the plane.

In the ceiling above, an LED lighting system is featured and WiFi extends throughout the plane.

And along the cabin walls, electro-chromatic windows eliminate the need for window shades.

And of course, a king-size bed in the master bedroom that comes in handy on the longer flights of which the jet is capable.

With an extended range of 5,650 nautical miles, the ACJ220 can fly for over 12 hours non-stop. That's enough to fly from the West Coast of the US to Europe.

The entry of the A220 into the private realm has long been speculated by other aircraft interior firms who have come up with designs of their own.

A trio of aircraft designers consisting of Kestrel Aviation Management, Camber Aviation Management, and Pierrejean Vision, unveiled their A220 private jet cabin concept in June.

Read More: The new Airbus A220 is being eyed for use as a private jet. See inside a $91.5 million design with its own cinema suite and master bedroom

It includes a private office...

Massive dining and conference table...

And cinema suite.

The A220 is the next step up from the latest and greatest from Bombardier...

Read More: A businessman is selling his brand-new Bombardier Global 7500 for $70 million, the only one on the market. Take a look inside the 3-month-old jet.

And Gulfstream, who are building larger and larger aircraft.

Read More: Private jet industry CEOs say 2 new planes coming out soon will change the business forever. See inside the Gulfstream G700 and Bombardier Global 7500.

Like most of the converted airliners, these private jets are intended for the elite among the private jet set group whether they be titans of industry, billionaires, or even national governments.

Read More: See inside the 'Dutch Air Force One': a Boeing 737 private jet that the king of the Netherlands flies himself

And with six jets already on order – two from Comlux and four from an undisclosed buyer – the ACJ220 will be flying as soon as 2023.

Source: Airbus

The coronavirus pandemic has emptied the airline terminals only to fill the private terminals as the wealthy shift their travel habits around health and safety. Private aircraft operators are rejoicing as it means more flights for their fleets but an even smaller segment of wealthy flyers are viewing the pandemic as a reason to make the jump into aircraft ownership.

Acquiring an aircraft comes with unique perks such as unrestricted aircraft availability but comes at a substantially higher cost. Industry veterans say buying an aircraft shouldn't be considered unless a person is spending $500,000 or more on private charter each year. 

Purchasing an aircraft, unlike buying a car, is an intimate process not only because of the financial commitment but largely due to the fact that an aircraft often serves as a home away from home. Textron Aviation's Senior Vice President of Sales and Flight Operations, Rob Scholl, told Business Insider that his salespeople will travel to prospective buyers and get a sense of their flying needs before recommending an aircraft. 

Manufacturers like Textron Aviation and aircraft sales firms are once again seeing normal transaction levels but the pandemic has changed the buying process. The cancellation of air shows and industry networking events is making it difficult for firms to get their aircraft in front of potential buyers and travel restrictions are delaying the process when it comes time to close.

Here's how they're navigating the pandemic to close deals.

The right time to buy

The immediate aftermath of the pandemic saw aircraft values drop as global travel restrictions largely hindered where people could fly. In some countries, citizens couldn't travel between states, let alone to the other side of the world on a vacation.

It's created a buyer's market for potential aircraft owners and encouraging the wealthy to purchase aircraft in preparation for when the borders do open. 

"There has been some price depreciation since COVID," Chad Anderson, president of aircraft sales and acquisition firm Jetcraft, told Business Insider. "And depending on the model of aircraft, you're looking at probably 10% to 15%, maybe 20% on an older product." 

As the pandemic enters its sixth month and travel restrictions begin to ease, prices are likely the lowest they'll get with Anderson saying the demand is catching up to the supply. Not only is Jetcraft seeing greater than normal number of transactions for this time of year – a typically slow season for aircraft sales – but charter operators are seeing an uptick in their business, indicating a desire to travel.

"The best signal we have is that charter market," Anderson said. "When charter market starts to return to business, that's a very healthy, starting point for us"

International travel restrictions have not stopped sales for ultra-long-haul aircraft as the pandemic has incurred pent up demand for cross-border travel. Customers want to be able to jet off to distant locales now more than ever and are making their purchases now so that they don't have to wait even longer for the right aircraft once restrictions do lift. 

Long-range aircraft from Gulfstream, Dassault, Bombardier are still as popular as ever since they can fly further without stopping compared to smaller jets. 

Bringing the plane to the buyer

Pre-pandemic buyers often journey to the aircraft they're seeking to purchase. Though it may seem counterintuitive since the latter is built to travel, flying an aircraft to a customer can negatively impact its value since it incurs more hours on the aircraft, similar to adding miles on a car.

But travel restrictions have forced sales firms to adapt and bring the product directly to the passengers, at a costly rate. "We're spending a lot of time and money with airplanes on the road right now," said Anderson.

With even a half-hour flight costing thousands of dollars, firms have to be strategic with to whom they bring the plane for a showing. And much like charter operators, Jetcraft is investing in disinfectants like MicroShield 360 so potential buyers feel comfortable when touring an aircraft. 

Textron Aviation uses demonstrations flights as a selling point for its buyers, including owners who are also pilots, and has had to revise its procedure for each flight to ensure a safe experience. Personal protective equipment is available to passengers and aircraft are sanitized before and after every flight, Scholl said.  

Salespeople are also changing their pitches by familiarizing themselves with the safety features of an aircraft rather than just the onboard luxuries or cost benefits for some owners that come with flying private. 

"It was very interesting about how quickly my sales team learned about how quickly the air circulates, how often it's refreshed, and where specifically it goes through the airplane," Scholl said, noting that it takes two minutes for the air to recycle on all of Textron's aircraft. 

Navigating lockdowns when it's time to buy

Both Jetcraft and Textron Aviation have multiple international offices so navigating travel restrictions isn't difficult for salespeople and flight crews, the latter of which are normally exempt from most restrictions, but closing the deal can often be a more time-intensive process. 

A recent Jetcraft transaction in Europe required the company to convince authorities to open airports that had been closed, waive quarantine restrictions for flight crews, and circumvent international travel restrictions to access a plane at Geneva Airport.

"You just have to find a way," Pascal Bachmann, Jetcraft's senior vice president of sales in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, told Business Insider.

It's often not impossible to close the deals but clearing each new obstacle that the pandemic has put in the way of international commerce often takes longer for deals to be completed. And it's not for lack of cooperation as authorities are often willing to help, according to Bachmann.

"I like to say that for the impossible, we need 24 hours delay," Bachmann said. "For miracles, we might need a bit longer."

But the new style of doing business virtually likely won't last in this sector, according to Scholl, as his experience during the pandemic hasn't been too different from normal.

"Customers are still coming in here to Wichita to meet with us and go on factory tours," Scholl said. "And I have been out to meet with customers in their homes so I think people still seem to be comfortable with those one-on-one interactions."

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Bombardier's newest private jet is now in service. 

The first Learjet 75 Liberty was just delivered to its first customer earlier this month, the latest achievement of Bombardier's powerhouse private jet division. After 15 months in development, the delivery marks the second Bombardier aircraft to enter service this year, alongside the long-range Global 5500. 

Alex Lyon & Son, an American auctioneering firm, is the launch operator of the Liberty, now the flagship of the Learjet family. 

A staple of American aviation, the Learjet product line dates back to 1963 when the first-ever Learjet took flight. Bombardier acquired the Learjet Corporation in 1990 and continued the development of the aircraft with new models, making it one of the oldest aircraft families still flying anywhere in the world.

Its latest offspring offers a more "accessible" alternative to the existing Learjet 75 model with a price point under $10 million, positioning the aircraft to compete against popular light jets from Cessna and Embraer, among others, according to FlightGlobal.

A leaner design with more optional amenities helps bring down the cost while a new 6-seat configuration featuring a private office-like space gives it a near-cross-country range of 2,080 nautical miles.

Take a look inside the new Learjet 75 Liberty. 

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Bombardier launched the Liberty project in 2019 with the focus not on making a larger Learjet but right-sizing an existing one, the Learjet 75.

Source: Bombardier

First announced by Bombardier in 2012, the Learjet 75 offered a modern update to an iconic product line with increases in range and performance compared to its predecessors.

Source: Bombardier

More powerful Honeywell TFE731 engines provided greater thrust and redesigned winglets improved fuel efficiency by four percent. But the jet was more expensive than its light jet competitors from Cessna and Embraer by around $3 million.

Source: Bombardier and FlightGlobal

So Bombardier went back to the drawing board and produced the Liberty, a $9.9 million plane that could better compete with other light jets on price while outperforming them.

Boasting a range of 2,080 nautical miles, the Liberty can tackle city pairs like New York-Las Vegas, Boston-Albuquerque, and Los Angeles-Orlando, if the conditions are right.

Source: Bombardier

It beats the Cessna Citation CJ3+, with a range of 2,040 nautical miles...

Source: Textron Aviation

And the Embraer Phenom 300E, which has a range of 2,010 nautical miles.

Source: Embraer

It doesn't top the Cessna Citation CJ4, however, which has a range of 2,165 nautical miles.

Source: Textron Aviation

Setting the Liberty apart from its competitors, however, is a more stringent safety rating from the Federal Aviation Administration, known as a Part 25 certification.

Though identical from the outside, the differences between the Learjet 75 and 75 Liberty are primarily seen in the interior cabin and performance capabilities.

The ideal configuration for the jet is six seats with an all-club seat layout, though that can be brought up to eight based on customer preference.

What makes the six-seat layout ideal is the executive suite, almost like a private office in the sky.

The first two seats of the aircraft are replaced with a large retractable table that's stored in the sidewall.

Leaving this space open instead of installing another seat gives nearly 3 feet of legroom and Bombardier has even installed an ottoman for additional comfort.

The executive suite seats face away from the rest of the aircraft, offering a modicum of privacy.

The club suite then houses the remaining four seats, arranged in pairs that face each other.

Each seat in this area has 24 inches of legroom, though that's likely reduced if the adjacent seat is occupied.

They also feature recline and swivel capabilities.

And both seat pairs have their own table that's stored in the sidewall.

Also tucked into the sidewall are storage compartments, where the in-seat power can also be found.

There's no divider between the executive suite and the club suite but a pocket door does separate the entire cabin from the cockpit and galley, aimed at increasing cabin quietness.

An eight-seat configuration would see the addition of two seats in the front of the plane, eliminating the executive suite and reducing range by 40 nautical miles.

Source: FlightGlobal

The cockpit features one of Bombardier's most advanced flight decks, known as the Vision Flight Deck featuring a Garmin G5000 avionics suite.

High definition displays comprise the primary flight displays with navigational charts available at the click of a mouse and synthetic vision helping guide pilots through the clouds.

Large W-shaped control yokes give the classic airplane feel for pilots flying the plane.

And the flight management computers are even touchscreen.

It's not a standup aircraft, with the cabin measuring only four feet and 11 inches tall.

And that's compounded by a width of five feet and one inch.

The product line has come a long way from the Learjet 23, which first flew in 1963.

Source: Bombardier

An iconic aircraft for American aviation, the jet could be found in the fleets of celebrities like James Brown and Frank Sinatra.

Even after a half-century of flight, the overall design of the fuselage remains the same from the Learjet 23 to the Liberty.

Bombardier acquired the Learjet Corporation in 1990, promptly developing the Learjet 60...

Source: Bombardier

Followed by the Learjet 45...

Source: Bombardier

And Learjet 40.

Source: Bombardier

A larger and longer-ranged model, the Learjet 85, was also planned but abandoned by the manufacturer.

Source: Bombardier

Coming off of the Learjet 85's failure, the success of the Liberty will likely determine the future of the program as Learjets are waning in popularity.

European private jet operator Comlux specializes in a unique type of aircraft that only an elite group of flyers can afford to enjoy: airliners-turned-private-jets. 

These massive planes were intended to carry hundreds of airline passengers but for the wealthy, they serve as flying homes. And they aren't for just the average millionaire as those wealthy enough to afford to own these jets are often billionaires like Donald Trump, Roman Abramovich, and Mark Cuban as they command hourly rates in the tens of thousands, not including the cost of storage, maintenance, and crew. 

Comlux has five jets from Boeing and Airbus in its fleet and among the largest is a Boeing Business Jet 767-200ER, affectionately known as "SkyLady." 

Back in Europe after a four-month stay in Indianapolis for refurbishments, SkyLady has a luxurious new look and advanced technology to boot. Comlux wouldn't share the exact price of the refurbishment but it can very easily be in the hundreds of thousands, if not millions, for an aircraft of this size.

Among the new tech is an ionization system aimed at killing pathogens in the air, in addition to regular cleanings of the aircraft. Private jet firms are being hyper-vigilant about new cleaning procedures during the pandemic as fears of air travel linger.

This aircraft would normally be reserved for heads of state or large corporations but Comlux CEO Andrea Zanetto told Business Insider that the new focus is on wealthy individuals traveling for leisure. As the world begins to reopen, the wealthy are avoiding the airlines and there's no populated place this plane can't go in a single stop with room for 51 passengers.

Take a look inside this Boeing Business Jet 767.

SEE ALSO: The history of the Airbus A220, the controversial plane Boeing tried to keep out of the US

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The Boeing 767-200 first entered service with United Airlines in 1982 as Boeing's first twin-engine wide-body jet aircraft.

Source: New York Times

It's seen service over the years as an airliner with US Airways, American Airlines, and Trans World Airlines, to name just a few.

But the 767's run with the airlines is nearing its end and a growing number of 767s can now be found flying cargo across the globe rather than passengers.

As the oldest and smallest model, the 767-200 is the rarest breed with fewer than 100 aircraft still flying.

Source: Planespotters.net

But the jet has found success in the private jet realm as the aircraft's size makes it ideal for ultra-wealthy travelers, corporate groups, and even national governments.

Canadian rapper Drake, for example, has a Boeing 767-200 private jet.

Read More: Drake's $185 million private plane just got a custom makeover from Louis Vuitton designer Virgil Abloh, and the exterior is now sky blue and covered in clouds

The New England Patriots have two Boeing 767s, though the team utilizes the slightly larger 767-400ER.

Read More: The New England Patriots' Boeing 767 private jet just flew 1.2 million N95 face masks from China to Boston. Take a closer look at the team plane.

For those who can't afford to purchase their own 767, Comlux offers one for private charter.

Meet SkyLady, the second-largest aircraft in the Comlux fleet with a 1,900-square-foot cabin.

The VIP jet can seat 51 passengers – only a fraction of its total capacity – with an emphasis on luxury and convenience.

Case in point, Comlux says a newly installed ionization system that kills pathogens in the air eliminates the need for passengers to wear a mask while onboard, though common sense precautions still need to be taken like when sneezing.

A flying time of 15 hours allows the jet to fly up to 6,700 nautical miles. City pairs like New York-Dubai, London-Tokyo, and Los Angeles-Istanbul are squarely in its range.

Back in Europe after four months of refurbishment in the US, SkyLady is ready to receive passengers.

Comlux designed the jet to have two separate living areas: a private apartment in the front for the principal flyers and luxurious airline-style seating in the back for any guests, support staff, or entourage that the principals might have.

Three rooms comprise the apartment: a master bedroom, living room, and dining area. Here's the master bedroom, complete with an ultra-king-size bed.

Attached to the bedroom is the master bathroom complete with a full vanity and walk-in shower.

The shower is a key perk as it completes the home-like feel of the aircraft. A traveler can fly 15 hours through the night and walk off the plane feeling clean and refreshed, ready to tackle the day's events.

The size of converted airliners like the 767 allows for them to have showers on board while most smaller private jets from Gulfstream, Embraer, Bombardier, and Dassault aren't large enough to accommodate them.

The living room next door features an L-shaped sofa perfect for watching a movie on the 4K 43-inch television screen.

Personal devices can also be connected to the television with ultra-fast 2Ku in-flight WiFi allowing for streaming capabilities and even video calls and conferences.

The sofa in the living room can also be made into a double bed, if required, to sleep additional passengers in the principal party.

The final room of the apartment is the dining room, which can also be used as a conference room for a meeting.

Gourmet meals can be crafted in the galley, ideal for when a flight crosses multiple time zones.

The rest of the plane is standard seating, though still extravagant, split between a first class-style cabin and premium economy-style cabin known as executive coach. It's completely separate from the apartment complete with a door to divide the two sections.

The first class cabin has 15 lie-flat leather seats arranged in a 2-1-2 configuration. Bedding for each seat includes a flat mattress pad, duvet, and pillow.

Pre-loaded iPads are also available for passengers to enjoy, with first class seats featuring device holders.

A minimum crew of two pilots and five flight attendants service the jet, though that could easily increase on the longer trips of which the 767 is capable.

Private jet firms are stepping up safety measures to attract new flyers amid the pandemic that's scared travelers off of commercial airliners.

Operators like Comlux and others are now disinfecting their aircraft regularly with the ionization system another precaution against coronavirus exposure.

Read More: A private jet firm is calling its planes 'COVID Cleared' to court wealthy travelers worried flying during the pandemic

It's just one of the ways the private aviation industry is preparing for an upcoming boom in their industry as they welcome unprecedented levels of new flyers.

Read More: The private jet industry is bracing for fall without its biggest money maker: business travelers. Execs are hoping wealthy vacationers can make up the difference.

Private aviation firm XOJET Aviation is one of the many aircraft operators riding a wave of expansion as more wealthy turn to private jets for travel in the wake of the pandemic. 

Like most private jet operators, XOJET saw a sharp reduction in flights in the weeks following the pandemic's peak in March but quickly rebounded over the summer. Now, the firm is growing with more aircraft and more pilots, with plans to grow its fleet up to 60 aircraft in the next 12 to 18 months.

And as expansion brings on new planes to the fleet, existing aircraft in the XOJET fleet will be getting an upgrade.  The planned fleet renewal will see all Bombardier Challenger 300 and Cessna Citation X aircraft receiving interior refurbishments and a new exterior paint job.

The project is also aimed at aligning the fleet with the branding of the XOJET's new parent company, Vista Global.  That's why the paint jobs found on the former all-white aircraft have been updated with Vista's iconic silver and red. 

As the larger aircraft, the Challenger 300 is getting a more advanced upgrade in all aspects including the service,  Kevin Thomas, XOJET Aviation's chief operating officer, told Business Insider in a prior interview. We caught up with one during a layover at Westhampton Beach, New York's Gabreski Airport.

Take a look inside one of XOJET Aviation's Bombardier Challenger 300s. 

SEE ALSO: NASA used a Boeing 747 rigged with a massive telescope to discover water on the moon — take a look at SOFIA

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XOJET Aviation has 17 of these Bombardier Challenger 300 super-midsize aircraft in its fleet that can carry up to nine passengers and a whole lot of baggage.

It's the largest aircraft in the legacy XOJET fleet above the Citation X, ideal for larger groups traveling together.

Two Honeywell HTF 7000 engines offer 4,119 pounds of thrust each and enable a top speed of 541 miles per hour.

And with a range of 3,065 nautical miles, it can fly non-stop from coast to coast and even between the West Coast and Hawaii.

These planes were formerly painted in plain white with black lettering but its new paint job is nearly identical to sister company Vista Jet's aircraft.

Here's a VistaJet Bombardier Global 6000, a long-range jet built for intercontinental travel, for example.

Alternatively, the Citation X has a slightly different look with the XO logo on the tail and no red stripe across the fuselage.

The VistaJet logo can also be found on the plane's winglets and tail.

As the largest aircraft, the Challenger 300s are receiving a complete overhaul inside and out. Climb aboard!

Inside the plane, the stand-up cabin seats nine passengers normally, four in the front and five in the back.

The forward section seats four with two pairs of club seats, a classic configuration found on nearly every private jet.

This section is typically where the lead passengers will sit, though there's no bad seat on this plane.

Each seat pair has a retractable table that's stored in the sidewall. It can be used during mealtimes or when working on a laptop.

All XOJET aircraft have complimentary domestic WiFi, a common trend in private aviation, allowing the jet to become a true workspace when flying.

Bombardier does, after all, call the plane a "true executive office for the skies."

Source: Bombardier

The headrest is adjustable to best fit the seat's users.

And seats can swivel and face inward, ideal if there's a group traveling together, for example.

Mechanical controls also allow the chairs to recline with leg rests offering additional comfort.

But for real comfort, the divan in the back can also be made up into a bed.

The rear section houses the five remaining seats on the jet.

The divan adds three seats in the back, a common trick to increase the seat count on the plane and squeeze and additional passenger.

Opposite the divan is another pair of club seats, completing the nine-seat layout. Some operators of the type opt for another pair of seats instead of the divan in an eight-seat layout.

The rear of the aircraft is more secluded, away from the forward galley and cockpit that could get noisy.

These aircraft also feature a "quiet cabin" package that further reduces noise levels in the cabin.

Pocket doors on both ends of the aircraft seal off the cabin to give it a private feel, also away from the cockpit and galley.

In-flight entertainment is limited to this small screen typically showing a map of the route and flight information but the plane does have a DVD player.

These panels at each seat controls the system with options for volume control and the video source, as well as the buttons to activate the overhead reading light and flight attendant call message.

Each seat also comes with two cup holders, which the flight crew stocks with water bottles before each flight.

In-seat power is available through a USB charging port and there's also an input for audio and video cables to connect to the in-flight entertainment system.

Each club seat also has its own storage compartment along the sidewall.

It's around a foot deep and can hold literature, a tablet, and possibly a small laptop.

Otherwise, it's where the safety card and airsickness bag can be found.

In the very back, there's a small, enclosed lavatory with a vanity and toilet.

The toilet seat has a seatbelt so it can be used to store an extra passenger, though that practice is discouraged in private aviation. It is often used by the cabin attendant, however, as aircraft of this size don't often have crew rest areas.

It comes stocked with the essentials like soap and hand sanitizer...

But also has some extras like skin cream and lotion.

Each seat is also a window seat on this jet.

Instead of the traditional airline-style pull-down window shade, a metallic slider controls the shade.

These planes can be found constantly roaming the country as they have no fixed home.

It's part of XOJET's appeal as flyers need only pay for the portion of the flight they're using, in most cases.

And as part of an industry-wide push for stronger cleaning procedures, the cabin is disinfected before each flight using Bacoban and masks are worn by the crew.

Five Challenger 300 aircraft have been upgraded so far with the project having to work around the peak travel times of the year.

There's no set completion date but all XOJET aircraft will have a whole new look in just a few years.

Some voters are finding themselves waiting in line for hours to cast their ballots. Others will arrive by private jet this Election Day.

Across the country, the wealthy are shunning the absentee ballot and turning to private aircraft to make it home before the polls close to ensure their votes are counted in the 2020 presidential election.

Private aviation firms are reporting a new trend in bookings this week as flyers return to their primary residences, some for less than a day, just to submit their ballot. 

Chartering flights to where their vote counts the most

Private jet charter brokerage evoJets has booked "several flights for clients returning to their primary residences," according to Managing Partner Rich Palese.

Four evoJets clients specifically booked flights to vote — and all of those are headed to swing states.

Two of the chartered trips are to Florida, 29 electoral votes, with one making a three-day round trip journey from California. And two jet-setters booked flights from popular quarantine getaways to get to their swing states. One is making the journey from Colorado to Pennsylvania, 20 electoral votes. and another is headed from Wyoming to Ohio, 18 electoral votes. 

The costs of these trips can easily be in the tens of thousands, depending on the aircraft being chartered, even if just for a same-day round trip. Adding in multiple-night stays can also add to the trip cost by thousands to cover accommodations for the aircraft and flight crew.

Major cities across the US are also gearing up for potential civil unrest following the election— the winner of which may not be known on Election Day night as mail-in ballots are counted in the days following — further encouraging the escape to secondary residences.

Helicopter firm Blade in New York City also confirmed to Business Insider that on Friday and Monday, it saw more flyers than normal take flights bound for the Hamptons, Hudson Valley, and Connecticut. Normally, flyers head home for the weekend and return to Manhattan for work at the start of the work week.

Taking flight to file in-person

The coronavirus pandemic has spurred additional early voting and vote-by-mail initiatives for the highly contentious election. But slow delivery times from the US Postal Service, reports of missing or rejected ballots, and concerns over the legitimacy of mail-in ballots have lead many to brace the polling place. 

Early voting numbers are smashing records, indicating a large turnout on Election Day itself as issues ranging from the coronavirus pandemic to social justice are on the ballot. In Texas, nearly 10 million residents showed up to the polls during the state's early voting period, as Business Insider's John Dorman reported, more than the statewide count during the 2016 election.

In New York City, early voters spent up to two hours in the rain to vote at the Brooklyn Museum, as Business Insider's Jake Lahut reported. Some voters cited issues with the USPS and showed up in person to ensure their votes were counted. 

Flying south for the winter

Election Day isn't typically a popular travel time as most wait until the Thanksgiving or Christmas holidays to begin their travels, but this year has shifted how the wealthy move around the country. Instead of weekend getaways, some flyers are opting for season-long vacations as the pandemic offered a unique opportunity in the form of work from home and remote schooling.

The summer saw an influx of one-way private jet flights as the wealthy retreated from big cities that stayed in lockdown longer than the country's rural regions. 

Five private aviation firms and brokerages polled by Business Insider indicated a preference for the mountains and the beach where the wealthy could social distance in the private. Newly opened destinations like Florida, Georgia, Colorado, and Texas were at the top of the list.

The private industry as a whole is currently experiencing a boom as the wealthy opt against flying on commercial airlines. While the fall season would normally season an influx in business travel and decrease in leisure travel, executives in the industry are reporting the opposite as they too recover from the effects of the pandemic on air travel.

SEE ALSO: Private jet flyers are heading to the mountains and the beach this summer to social distance in luxury. Here are their top 9 US destinations.

Join the conversation about this story »

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The coronavirus pandemic has disrupted countless industries and among those still affected is the wedding industry. A still-ongoing moratorium on large gatherings and push for social distancing forced some couples to push back their ceremonies while others settled for smaller, more intimate receptions.

But one company is offering soon-to-be newlyweds an alternative to the banquet halls in the form of a private jet. Aircraft charter brokerage Air Charter Service is offering a socially distanced "Wedding in the Sky" experience with receptions onboard private jets on two-hour flights to nowhere. 

Packages start at $18,000 and prices further vary based on aircraft size with options for a 16-seater heavy jet and six-seat light jet, each with their own perks depending on how exclusive the couple wants the wedding to be.

The standard amenities in each package include a chauffeured car to and from the departure airport of the couple's choosing, an onboard floral arrangement, and a selection of champagne, canapes, and personalized wedding favors, among others. One of the flight crew members will also act as unofficial officiant during the flight.

Vows will have had to been exchanged in an official setting such as in a place of worship or government office before boarding the flight. 

The unique experience comes as the private aviation industry shifts its focus to leisure travel in its recovery. A lack of business travelers has meant relying on more leisure flyers during an off-peak season for the segment and every flight counts, even if to nowhere.

Here's what potential flyers can expect.

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The "Ultimate Wedding in the Sky" package starts at $28,000.

It includes a 2-hour flight on a large-cabin private aircraft, such as this Bombardier Challenger 850.

These types of aircraft have stand-up cabins so flyers don't have to crouch when standing up.

The size of the Challenger 850's cabin is comparable to this Global 6500, another Bombardier heavy jet.

It's what most people think of when they think "private jet" thanks to its size and luxurious cabin.

The Challenger 850 can also seat up to 16 in case additional members of the wedding party also want to take flight.

The happy couple can pick their flight route for the round-robin flight, with the option to fly over special places of significance.

The Challenger 850 has a top speed of Mach .85, allowing the newlywed flyers to make the most out of their two hours.

Source: Vista Jet

But for those on a smaller budget, the "Just the Two of Us" experience offers a more intimate experience in a smaller plane.

Starting at $18,000, flyers are given a light jet, such as this Cessna Citation CJ2.

The Citation CJ2 seats six in a small cabin that affords very little extra room for guests. Here's what the cabin looks like in a similar jet, the Citation CJ3.

Flyers can similarly choose the route they take with the option to fly over places of significance.

But Citation CJ2 has a slightly lower top speed of only around Mach .72, so the newlyweds might not get as far in two hours compared to the larger jet.

Source: Jet Advisors

A perk of the smaller jet package, however, is that the couple will also receive passport holders customized with their initials, to be used for when Americans can travel overseas again.

Brazilian airframer Embraer and German auto icon Porsche operate on opposite ends of the globe and the transportation spectrum. But they do have one thing in common: building luxurious vehicles that go very fast, and now they're teaming up for a limited-edition pairing of their top models. 

Named "Duet", the pairing features a meticulously crafted Embraer Phenom 300E and Porsche 911 Turbo S in the first partnership between the two firms. The matching private jet and supercar combo are designed to complement each other in their respective arenas with the 911 Turbo S dominating the road and the Phenom 300E dominating the sky. 

The Phenom 300 is one of Embraer's best-selling private aircraft series, originally entering service in 2010. Its performance in the marketplace in addition to the skies earned it the title of "most-delivered light jet" in 2019 for the eighth consecutive year.

The 911 Turbo S, for its part, is not only the top-of-the-line version of Porsche's most celebrated sports car, it's also one of the quickest cars money can buy, claiming a 0-60-mph time of 2.6 seconds. 

The partnership comes as demand for private aircraft is high during a pandemic that has crippled the public's trust in commercial air travel. Private aircraft operators and manufacturers alike have shifted the conversation to health and safety, hoping to corner a new market of ultra-high-net-worth individuals who weren't flying private before the pandemic, but there's still room for luxury.

Take a look at the Duet, currently being sold for $10,992,000.

SEE ALSO: See inside the the world's largest private jet: a Boeing 747 with an interior so large it took 4 years to design and build

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Embraer rolled out the Phenom 300E, or enhanced, in 2017 with design and technological upgrades to the popular Phenom 300.

Read More: I flew on a $10 million Embraer Phenom 300E and I now understand why it's the most popular private jet in the world

Since the model's first delivery in 2009, it's been a favorite of charter operators and private owners alike thanks to its speed, range, and performance.

Source: Embraer

In 2019 alone, Embraer delivered 51 Phenom 300s, including the newer 300E.

Source: Embraer

Embraer's partnership with Porsche focuses on the 300E as the newer version.

With a range of 2,010 nautical miles, city pairs including New York-Denver, London-Tel Aviv, and Singapore-Mali are squarely in reach for the 300E.

And a simplified, yet incredibly advanced cockpit is a pilot's dream with three high-definition screens providing flight and route data, as well as aeronautical charts.

Only one pilot is required to fly the jet, placing it in a unique category of "personal private jets" where the owner can also be the sole pilot.

Read More: The 8 best 'personal' private jets that only require one pilot to fly

Its popularity has encouraged Embraer to spin it off into various arenas, including the air ambulance field.

Read More: Embraer has a new $9.65 million air ambulance version of its private jet – take a look inside

And now, the two giants of their fields are teaming up to provide the wealthy with the ultimate luxurious duo.

The "high-speed design" by Porsche and Embraer seeks to offer a "seamless experience" when going from a car to a private jet, and vice versa, as both vehicles are designed to satisfy the need for speed.

The Porsche 911 Turbo S tops out at 205 mph, according to Porsche, while the Phenom 300E can reach a top speed of Mach .80, or more than 600 miles per hour.

The jet is an extension of the car, and vice versa, to go where the other can't. As the old saying goes, "a mile of road will take you just one mile while a mile of runway will take you anywhere."

Powering the Porsche is a 3.7-liter, six-cylinder engine promising 640 horsepower, while the jet is powered by two Pratt & Whitney PW535E1 engines offering 3,478 pounds of thrust.

Inside the cabin, Embraer opted for a nine-passenger configuration including six club seats, a two-person divan, and the co-pilot's seat. Customers don't have the option to change it.

The seat designs are near-identical in both the aircraft and car, with the sew style for the Embraer jet based on the 911 Turbo S.

The black and white leather seats are also accented with a "speed blue" stitch, the color of Embraer's logo, also found on various aspects of the Porsche.

Plus, seats in both vehicles feature red pull straps.

The 300E's seats are highly-customized and their design pushed the limits of Embraer's design team, as aircraft seats must pass through a strenuous certification process.

The debossed engraving on the Porsche's seat represents downforce, which keeps cars planted to the ground at high speeds...

While embossed stitching on the jet's seats signifies lift, required for flight.

The Porsche's steering wheel design also mirrors the yoke in the aircraft's cockpit for a truly interconnected experience between the plane and car.

Although, the Porsche doesn't have the famous "ram horn" yokes that can be found on the Phenom 300E.

Owners that are also pilots, to which Embraer expects to sell a good portion of these pairings, will experience that interconnected dynamic the most as they'll be behind the controls in both vehicles.

It's the ultimate expression of personal freedom: driving yourself to your private jet and then personally flying that jet. It also saves on crew costs.

The 911 sports numerous other aviation-inspired design features, including a "No Step" message on the door sills, matching the writing found on an aircraft's wing to indicate sensitive areas.

The sports car's dash-mounted stopwatch mimics the look of the aircraft's instruments.

Not to mention, painted under the spoiler will also be the registration number of the aircraft, furthering the bond between the two.

Both vehicles also boast the same exterior color scheme. Porsche hand-painted the car in metallic silver and grey.

The automaker also painted the 911's air intakes chrome to match similar trim on the jet's fuselages.

The Duet's badge, in homage to the limited nature of the release, allows the buyer to pick any position on the spectrum, irrespective of which order number they have, and solidify it with a blue chip.

It can be found alongside the car door and next to the boarding door on the Phenom 300E.

On the dashboard, the phrase "one of 10" can also be found, a reference to the limited release.

The Duet-edition 911 Turbo S can only be purchased as part of the package, and Porsche estimates its value to be in the range of $400,000 — nearly double the price of a standard model.

Buyers can go to any Porsche dealership in the world to inquire about the product. Once purchased, the automaker will then immerse the customer in the full Porsche buying experience from start to finish.

The near-$11 million purchase price also comes with accessories, including this watch and a luggage set.

The design of this special-edition Porsche Design 1919 Globetimer UTC incorporates an artificial horizon, a cockpit instrument used by pilots to ensure the aircraft is flying straight and level, as well as assist with maneuvers.

One of the hands is also the Embraer logo.

The leather strap also features the same blue stitching found on the aircraft and car.

The sales environment for selling aircraft has changed but Embraer and Porsche will be setting up exclusive showings – both in-person and virtual – to prospective buyers. Deliveries can begin around one year from purchase.

You can now buy President Donald Trump's personal helicopter. 

Trump's iconic red, white, and black helicopter is almost as famous as the president himself. It could be found as a frequent guest on his hit television show and then on the campaign trail leading up to the 2016 presidential election. And in August, it appeared on the for-sale market by the Trump Organization after flying Trump and his family for 10 years, Time reported.

Canada's Aero Asset and California's Jet Edge Partners are leading the sale, with the latter's website showing that a deal for the aircraft is pending. If a sale goes through before Trump leaves office on January 20, 2021, at noon, the soon-to-be-former president will be left grounded. Well, at least when it comes to rotorcraft.  

Registered with DJT Aerospace, a Dover, Delaware-based company, the helicopter is just one of many aircraft in the Trump fleet alongside Boeing 757 and Cessna Citation X private jets, as well a UK-based helicopter fleet. The unmistakable aircraft is registered as N76DT - the last two letters being a nod to its owner's initials - and had "TRUMP" emblazoned on the rear fuselage, though promotional material shows the lettering removed. 

The Sikorsky S-76 is the epitome of a VIP helicopter preferred by charter operators and celebrities alike. Besides Trump, the S-76 can be found in the fleet of Queen Elizabeth II of England and was the helicopter of choice for the late Kobe Bryant, as Business Insider's David Slotnick detailed in January.

Take a closer look at N76DT. 

SEE ALSO: Porsche and Embraer are selling a matching limited-edition private jet and supercar combo for $11 million

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Those in the market for a highly-specialized personal helicopter with a storied past can look no further than this one.

This S-76B was built in 1989, entering the Trump fleet in 2010.

Source: FlightAware

It's picked up quite a lot of hours in 31 years of flight with 6,259.3 hours over the course of 19,159 flights.

Source: Aero Asset

Ideal for short-haul travel, the S-76B has a range of around 260 nautical miles, making flights from New York to as far as Boston, Washington, and even Buffalo possible, under the right conditions.

Source: Business Jet Traveler

Trump has two more S-76 helicopters in his fleet, one more registered in the US and another in the UK servicing his golf resorts in Scotland.

Inside N76DT, the Eric Roth-designed cabin seats six passengers with two reclinable club seats and a four-person divan.

Source: CNBC and Aero Asset

All the seats and even the door panels are covered in "ecru/almond" leather.

Source: Aero Asset

Gold fittings can also be found on the seat and the door panels, a Trump aircraft staple.

Source: Aero Asset

The central credenza is crafted in African mahogany and features a screen that displays the flight map.

Source: Aero Asset

Underneath is where snacks and drinks are usually kept.

The headliner and window panels are covered in "cream ultra" suede while the carpet is custom-made from Scott Group, known as "dual tan Saint John's."

Source: Aero Asset

The divan is belted for four passengers but the center cushion can also fold down to create a table. There's also more storage compartments under here.

Source: Aero Asset

While typically flown with two pilots, only one is required to fly the S-76.

Source: Aero Asset

The avionics suite is also rated for flights under Instrument Flight Rules, meaning it can fly in the clouds.

Source: Aero Asset

Using one of New York City's numerous heliports, it's a sub-10-minute flight to any of the area airports and a 30-minute flight to the Hamptons. In an hour, conditions permitting, you can fly from Wall Street non-stop to Martha's Vineyard.

It's a luxurious way to travel, if one can afford it. CNBC reported the helicopter's cost to be around $7 million in 2010.

Source: CNBC

And while this model has only gotten older since Trump's purchase, the soon-to-be former owner has only grown in his celebrity, ascending from businessman, television reality star, and Manhattan socialite to president of the United States.

The helicopter was also a frequent sight on the campaign trail, used by then-candidate Trump for short hops around the New York area and nearby campaign stops in surrounding states.

One of its last high-profile missions before Trump upgraded to Marine One was flying the candidate to the Republican National Convention in Cleveland.

He had arrived earlier on his matching Boeing 757. The jet is not currently for sale.

In Iowa the year prior, free helicopter rides were given to kids at the state fair. Trump won the state in 2016 and is projected to win it again in 2020.

Source: The Hill

The helicopter was helpful in building the identity of the billionaire outsider that was pitching himself as going to shake up Washington.

But since arriving in Washington, Trump hasn't flown on 76DT, trading up for Marine One.

If a sale goes through before the end of Trump's presidency, the last helicopter flight he'll take for some time will likely be the traditional Marine One journey from the US Capitol Building to Andrews Air Force Base for the final flight home on Air Force One.

And a lucky buyer will get to purchase a piece of history as the owner of the only personal helicopter owned by a former president.

XO, one of the largest private aviation firms in the country, is growing its dedicated fleet of charter aircraft with the addition of 15 light jet aircraft.

Starting today, the Cessna Citation Ultra aircraft will be available for charter directly through XO, offering members more options when booking private jet travel and better positioning the firm to attract newcomers to private aviation. 

The light jets will roam around the country as part of XO's now 58-aircraft-strong floating fleet model where aircraft have no fixed home, saving members on repositioning costs. They'll initially be found flying on the East Coast, as well as in the Bahamas and some Caribbean countries, before expanding to the West Coast and some parts of Canada and Mexico. 

Thomas Flohr, the CEO of XO's parent company Vista Global, told Business Insider that "explosive" membership growth since April by nearly double was a primary catalyst for the expansion into the light jet realm. 

Private jet firms across the US including XO are reporting a faster-than-expected recovery from the pandemic centered around an increase in leisure travel, encouraging expansion for the largest companies. Combined with XO's existing fleet of super-midsize and long-range aircraft, the light jet fleet will make the firm a one-stop-shop for a variety of planes. 

Read More: Private jet industry CEOs say business will boom as the wealthy abandon airlines and reveal what they're doing now to take advantage

The move also strengthens XO's appeal in capturing the new market by offering the entry-level light jets that are more cost-effective than the larger super-midsize aircraft the firm has traditionally operated. New entrants often start by chartering light aircraft to get a feel for the industry and the perks of flying private before moving to the larger models.

The Ultra is an ideal aircraft for the popular short hops for which a large aircraft would be overkill, such as between New York City and Massachusetts Islands or Los Angeles and Las Vegas. And as the aircraft are owned by XO, getting owner approval for short flights – a common issue in the charter world where aircraft typically require approval by their owners, often an wealthy individual – won't be an issue. 

Boasting a range of 1,960 nautical miles, according to Jetcraft, XO can fly the jet on city pairs such as New York-Palm Beach, Los Angeles-Dallas, and Chicago-Phoenix without stopping for fuel, under the right conditions. Cessna produced the aircraft as part of its popular Citation family from 1994 until the turn of the century and during that time, it earned the title of "Best Business Jet" from Flying Magazine, Jetcraft reported. 

XO will be refurbishing the cabins and will soon include free WiFi onboard the jets. The firm just recently embarked on a fleet renewal for its Cessna Citation X and Bombardier Challenger 300 super-midsize aircraft, the latter of which Business Insider toured in October, giving the jets a new paint job and interior improvements. 

Light jets are often the perfect compromise who want the benefits of private aviation but don't need a Gulfstream or Global Express every time they fly. Even before the pandemic, these types of light jets were popular because they are the least expensive jet aircraft to charter.

Smaller airports with shorter runways are also more accessible for light jet than with larger aircraft. And with service to regional cities being cut by the major airlines, leisure and business travelers are finding themselves with fewer options when it comes to commercial aviation. 

"We looked at how the world has changed in the last 10 months since COVID was hitting and a lot of the commercial infrastructure fell away," Flohr said. "We saw that the demand for short-term travel is needed and many flyers living outside or working outside major aviation hubs, they're facing restrictions to get from A to B." 

XO members have always had access to light jets, as well as over 2,100 aircraft through what the firm calls the XO Fleet Alliance, but having them owned and operated in-house allows XO to offer a consistent product.

Members can also book private jet charter flights online or through a new XO app that gives users a guaranteed price for the charter, eliminating the need to go through a third-party broker. The app also gives additional booking options allowing flyers can see different prices on different days as flexibility is key to saving money while chartering. 

SEE ALSO: The world's longest flight just quietly touched down in New York. Here's why you haven't heard anything about it.

DON'T MISS: Trump is selling his iconic $7 million helicopter that was a frequent guest on 'The Apprentice' and the campaign trail — see inside

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Winter is fast approaching, and so is the holiday travel season. 

While budget travelers shop around for the cheapest commercial airline tickets for a Thanksgiving or Christmas getaway, the wealthy are calling their aircraft brokers to book their private jet flights. Pent up demand for safe travel has brought the private aviation industry an abundance of new business and Business Insider polled leading private aviation firms to see just where their clients are going.

After a summer of unusual flying patterns, private jet firms are reporting a return to the traditional destinations for the winter. Mountain destinations are still popular for ski lovers while the beach provides a warm escape from the winter cold as temperatures and flyers head south. 

International destinations are less prominent on the list as travel restrictions still impact Americans but Latin American and Caribbean destinations remain a popular escape. Countries in those regions have relaxed their entry requirements for US citizens arriving by air as they rely on tourism dollars

"Last year, we saw our clients traveling to London, Paris, Venice and other international destinations, but this year they're sticking to familiar locales," Flexjet Chief Operating Officer Megan Wolf told Business Insider in a statement.

Here are the top destinations to where the wealthy are flying this winter. 

Colorado 

Colorado is proving to be an all-year-round destination for the wealthy in 2020 as the mountainous state is among the most popular destinations for four jet companies. Jet Linx, Flexjet, FXAIR, and Silver Air Private Jets are all reporting an increase in flights to the state that also saw a busier than expected summer season for wealthy tourism.  

Aspen and Eagle are the most popular points of entry to Colorado, offering direct access to the ski slopes and an idyllic setting for social distancing in the mountains. Winter travel to these destinations can also prove difficult due to the mountain terrain, especially at night or on longer flights to the East Coast where a fuel stop might be required, so flyers should be flexible.  

Florida 

Florida is also once again topping the lists as a top destination for the wealthy, according to FXAIR, Flexjet, and Jet Linx. Palm Beach and Naples are the favorites in the Sunshine State and were similarly popular during the summer as Florida reopened before most.

The New York-Palm Beach route is among the most popular in the US thanks to a mix of private jet and commercial traffic. And even the president of the United States spends winter weekends in Palm Beach.

Mexico

The wealthy are also heading south of the border this winter to the Mexican cities of Los Cabos, Cabo San Lucas, Cancun, and Puerto Vallarta, according to Silver Air Private Jets and Flexjet. As the closest destinations to the US, Los Cabos, and Cabo San Lucas top the lists for the two firms and Mexico overall is the top winter destination for Silver Air Private Jets based on current bookings.

The vacation destinations are quick hops by plane from West Coast cities, making them popular escapes for wealthy Southern Californians and the Silicon Valley crowd. Mexico began welcoming Americans arriving by air sooner than most countries and became a popular destination for international travelers of all backgrounds.

Mexico does not require proof of a negative COVID-19 test for entry, according to the US Embassy in Mexico. 

Hawaii

West Coast flyers are heading outside the contiguous 48 states to a newly-reopened Hawaii, which began welcoming tourists in October. The Hawaiian Islands are only around six-hours from most coastal cities, give or take a half-hour, but a world away. 

FXAIR, Magellan Jets, and Silver Air Private Jets are reporting an increase in bookings to the archipelagic state, with the cities of Honolulu, Kona, and Kahului serving as the primary airports of entry. Travelers can enter the state as long as they take an "FDA-authorized Nucleic Acid Amplification Test from a state of Hawaii Trusted Testing or Travel Partner," according to the Hawaiian Tourism Authority. 

Caribbean

For travelers on the other side of the country, the Caribbean remains a popular spot and is similarly welcoming Americans with relaxed restrictions. Flexjet is reporting an uptick of flights to Nassau, Bahamas while Magellan Jets expects to see more flights to the Dominican Republic and Turks and Caicos. 

Both Turks and Caicos and The Bahamas require a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken within five days prior to departure for entry, according to the US Embassy in The Bahamas. The Dominican Republic does not require proof of a negative test but health screenings may occur on arrival, according to the US Embassy in the Dominican Republic.

Nevada

Las Vegas is the top getaway spot in Nevada, according to Silver Air Private Jets. From Los Angeles, Sin City is often just a short 45-minute hop from any of the executive airports serving the region. 

While the gambling and nightlife of Las Vegas is the main allure, natural attractions such as Zion National Park in neighboring Utah, the Grand Canyon National Park in neighboring Arizona, and Death Valley National Park in neighboring California are also just a few hours away by car and an even shorter trip by private helicopter. 

California

And while some are looking to escape Southern California for the holidays, others are turning into their destination. Los Angeles, San Diego, and Palm Springs are all right in the middle of Flexjet's top destinations this winter. 

Georgia

Sea Island, Georgia also made it on Jet Linx's list of top destinations this winter. The exclusive island located in between Savannah and Jacksonville, Florida is home to miles of Georgian shoreline and, along with nearby St. Simons Island, is a golf-lovers paradise. 

Montana

Bozeman is once again joining the list of popular destinations for Flexjet as the primary point of entry for flyers heading to Montana. A veritable gateway to all that nature has to offer, Bozeman is just a few hours drive from Yellowstone National Park and the ski scene in Big Sky. 

Just as it was in the summer, Montana is a popular social distancing spot and Bozeman has been increasing in popularity with the wealthy looking to escape the cities in search of fresh air and star-laden skies.

SEE ALSO: Trump is selling his iconic $7 million helicopter that was a frequent guest on 'The Apprentice' and the campaign trail — see inside

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• NetJets and Brooks Running, both owned by Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway, are among the few companies benefiting from the pandemic.
• NetJets, which sells fractional ownership of private jets, has tripled its number of new customers this year, and plans to add at least 40 planes to its fleet annually for the next few years.
• Brooks attracted 1.6 million new runners in the first 10 months of this year, and expects to grow its sales by 27% this year after a record third-quarter performance.
• "We've got so much support from Warren and Greg Abel and everyone at Berkshire to build this brand," Brooks CEO Jim Weber said in a Cheddar interview.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

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Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway has been hit hard by the pandemic, but at least two of its businesses are flying down the track.

The famed investor's company owns NetJets, which sells fractional ownership in private jets, and Brooks Running, a sportswear retailer. NetJets has seen a spike in demand from wealthy people who want to travel but prefer to avoid busy airports and crowded airplanes during the pandemic.

Meanwhile, Brooks has benefited from surging interest in running while gyms remain closed and outdoor activities restricted during lockdowns.

Read More: Value investor Adam Schwartz explains why Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway slashed its JPMorgan and Wells Fargo stakes, cheers its record buybacks, and praises its patience

NetJets expects to bolster its fleet with 30 new aircraft this year, and plans to add at least 40 planes annually over the next few years, Patrick Gallagher, president of Berkshire's business aviation unit, said at a virtual conference last month, according to Forbes.

"We think we have a nice long runway of an increase in new business," he added. Indeed, NetJets has signed up about three times as many new customers this year as it did in 2019, he told Reuters.

Meanwhile, Brooks' revenues soared 39% year-on-year to a record high last quarter, spurring the running-shoe seller to forecast 27% sales growth this year. The brand attracted 1.6 million new runners in the first 10 months of this year, gained more market share than its rivals, and boosted its digital sales to 42% of total sales, up from 35% in 2019.

Read More: Zoom has soared 497% this year. 3 analysts — including one of the most accurate in tech — break down whether you should buy, hold, or sell the stock as a vaccine becomes widely available.

CEO Jim Weber said the gains might mark the "beginning of a new running boom" in a Cheddar interview this week. He suggested the potential return of events such as the Olympics, marathons, and group runs next year could be a "turbocharger to the growth that we're seeing now."

Weber also emphasized the value of Buffett's backing to his company.

"It's probably a significant competitive advantage for us because we've got so much support from Warren and Greg Abel and everyone at Berkshire to build this brand," he said. Abel is one of Buffett's top lieutenants and the head of Berkshire's non-insurance operations.

"We're playing for the long haul here and it's great to have Berkshire Hathaway's support," Weber added.

Read More: The creator of a new volatility index for the Nasdaq 100 shares how investors can protect portfolios loaded with tech names — and explains why he thinks it's superior to the VIX

Berkshire acquired NetJets for $725 million in cash and stock in 1998. Buffett and his family had enjoyed its planes for years, so the investor invited Rich Santulli, the boss of NetJets' parent company, Executive Jet Aviation, to call him if he ever wanted to sell the business. Santulli took him up on the offer.

Fruit of the Loom, a Berkshire-owned apparel retailer, bought Brooks' former parent company, Russell Athletics, in 2006. Buffett and his team spun off Brooks into an independent subsidiary in 2012. Brooks has taken part in Berkshire's annual meetings for the better part of a decade, selling commemorative shoes and organizing charity runs for attendees.

Join the conversation about this story »

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One of the world's newest private jet has touched down in Europe.

The Praetor 600 is the latest executive aircraft from Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer and was just delivered to its first customer, Flexjet. Embraer Executive Jets began developing the plane in 2018 as part of a new product line aimed at improving existing private jets by utilizing the latest available technology in aircraft manufacturing. 

As the fleet launch customer for the jet, Flexjet is among the first companies currently flying the $21 million jet as part of a $1.4 billion order that will Flexjet grow its fleet of Embraer aircraft alongside the Legacy 450, Phenom 300, and Praetor 500. The Praetor 600 will serve Flexjet's London-based European division as the firm continues to grow internationally beyond the US.

Flexjet's newest arrival comes as more ultra-high-net-worth individuals are turning to private aviation in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic's impact on the airline industry. Private aircraft are regarded as a safer, cleaner, and more exclusive way to travel compared to airliners, giving firms the perfect opportunity to attract new customers to the private aviation realm. 

Read more: Private jet industry CEOs say business will boom as the wealthy abandon airlines and reveal what they're doing now to take advantage

And as flyers begin to take to the skies again, a new generation of private jets such as the Praetor 600 are ready to welcome them back.

Take a look inside Embraer and Flexjet's newest private jet.

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Embraer first announced the Praetor series in 2018 as a revamped version of the popular Legacy series, offering improvements in range, fuel efficiency, and the interior cabin.

Read More: Embraer just revealed a new $21 million private jet with a luxury interior design to remind you of the beaches of Brazil

The Praetor 600 is the largest jet in the new family, with Flexjet as its fleet launch customer.

The super-midsize aircraft can seat between eight and 12 passengers, depending on the configuration.

Source: Embraer

Boasting a range of 4,018 nautical miles, the jet can easily fly extended city pairs such as New York-London, Paris-Delhi, and Oslo-Dubai.

Source: Embraer

Powering the jet are two rear-mounted Honeywell HTF7500E engines offering 7,528 pounds of thrust.

Source: Embraer

They also enable a top speed of Mach .83 and a maximum cruising altitude of 45,000 feet.

Source: Embraer

Inside the jet, Flexjet went for a nine-passenger configuration in the six-foot-tall cabin, common with super-mid jets.

Source: Embraer

Six leather club seats and a three-person divan comprise the passenger cabin with two pairs in the forward cabin and another pair in the rear.

Each seat pair comes with a retractable table stored in the armrest, ideal for a variety of uses including working on a laptop, enjoying a coffee, or playing cards with a seatmate.

And then during the mealtimes, it can act as a dining room table.

Afterward, passengers can also retreat to the divan to get some rest during the flight.

All seats can also lie fully flat, allowing travelers to get some rest on the long journeys of which the plane is capable of flying.

The galley is located in the front of the plane with the jet also capable of accommodating a cabin attendant, even with a full load of passengers.

Source: Embraer

In the rear of the cabin is the sole lavatory on the jet. It's enclosed from the rest of the cabin for privacy and includes a full vanity and large mirror.

Back on the outside of the plane, enhanced winglets on each wing help increase the jet's performance and fuel efficiency.

Source: Embraer

And if they look larger than normal for a jet of this size, that's because they are and stand at around six feet tall.

Source: Embraer

Flexjet's Praetor 600 fleet will be based in Europe and can serve some of the most challenging airports on the continent.

Among them is London City Airport, a single-runway airport in the heart of London that's notoriously difficult to access thanks to a short runway and the steep approaches that aircraft must fly in order to land there.

Its proximity to London's Financial District is unbeatable but the airport is typically the domain of regional aircraft as they're nimble enough to handle the restrictions.

British Airways even specially outfitted one of its Airbus A318s in a special all-business class configuration to perform flights from the airport to New York.

Read More: I toured the most iconic British Airways jet since the Concorde just before its abrupt retirement. See inside the plane that shuttled VIP flyers between New York and London.

But the airport is no match for the Praetor 600. Under the right conditions, the jet can even fly non-stop between London City Airport and New Jersey's Teterboro Airport, a business traveler's dream.

Source: Embraer

Another challenging airport the Praetor 600 can easily tackle is Engadin Airport in St. Moritz, Switzerland.

The high elevation and surrounding mountainous terrain make the airport one of the most difficult to access in Europe but the Praetor 600 can utilize the airport with ease.

The London elite looking for an easy escape to the slopes can fly straight from Canary Wharf to St Moritz in less than a few hours on the jet.

The jet's unseen amenities also make it a dream for passengers, including its low cabin altitude of only 5,800 feet when cruising at its maximum altitude.

Source: Embraer

A lower cabin altitude allows for more humidity in the cabin and reduces the effects of flying on the body, such as jet lag when crossing time zones.

A Boeing 787 Dreamliner's cabin altitude, for example, only goes as low as 6,000 feet.

Under Flexjet's "Red Label" program, fractional owners will be given a dedicated aircraft and crew for a consistent experience each time they fly.

Source: Flexjet

All the jets will be painted in Flexjet's classic livery.

It's a subtle yet luxurious design that is found on all of its aircraft.

The arrival of the jet is just the latest step in Flexjet's fleet renewal that will see some of the newest aircraft arrive in its fleet over the next few years.

Flexjet is also the North American launch customer for the Gulfstream G700, the latest ultra-long-range jet from the American manufacturer that's set to rival Bombardier's Global 7500.

For now, Flexjet's European customers will be among the first to fly on the world's newest private jet.

Dassault Aviation unveiled its latest private jet on Tuesday in a virtual event streamed from its production plant in Merignac, France near Bordeaux. 

The Falcon 6X is the newest member to join the famed Dassault Falcon family that's been flying for over half a century, starting in the 1960s with the Falcon Mystere 20. Dassault crafted the 6X to be an "ultra widebody" business jet, not to be confused with Airbus' "xtra wide-body" A350 airliner, and offers a wider cabin than anything from transatlantic rivals Gulfstream and Bombardier. 

Ultra-long-range aircraft are in high demand right now as wealthy buyers are looking to scoop up aircraft for when the world opens for international travel. The pandemic has soured the wealthy jet set on commercial aviation and has turned a great deal of them into private flyers and even aircraft owners. 

The Falcon 6X can quite easily cross continents and oceans for more non-stop journeys, increasing the health and safety benefits of flying private that also includes access to private terminals and executive airports.

Read more: Airline workers have lower rates of COVID-19 than the general population — and airline CEOs say it's proof that flying is safe

And now that it's been unveiled, Dassault will test and certify the aircraft for a 2022 entry into service following its first flight in 2021, as Aviation International News reported. 

Take a closer look at the Dassault Falcon 6X.

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Dassault first announced the 6X program in 2018 after canceling a similar jet program for the planned Falcon 5X due to engine issues.

Source: Dassault Aviation

The new aircraft built upon the lessons learned and data acquired while developing the 5X and the result was a larger aircraft that could fly further than the canceled jet.

Source: Dassault Aviation

One noticeable difference between the Falcon 6X and Dassault's other business jets right off the bat is the lack of a third engine.

It's the second twin-engine jet currently in production at Dassault behind the Falcon 2000, seen here.

Pratt & Whitney developed the PW812D engine, offering up to 14,000 pounds of thrust more efficiently than previous generation engines to help keep fuel costs down.

Source: Pratt & Whitney

Here's a closer look at the engine.

And despite having only two engines, the Falcon 6X still boasts a top speed of Mach .90, the same as the tri-engine Falcon 8X.

Source: Dassault Aviation

But going fast isn't its only trick as the 6X has an approach speed of 109 knots, allowing it to access airports with short runways or steep approaches including Santa Monica Airport in California or London City Airport in the UK.

Source: Dassault Aviation

With a range of 5,500 nautical miles, city pairs including Los Angeles-Moscow, New York-Tel Aviv, and London-Hong Kong are also firmly in reach, making it the third longest-ranged jet in the Falcon family.

Source: Dassault Aviation

And that's while flying above most commercial jet traffic with a top altitude of 51,000 feet.

Source: Dassault Aviation

Inside the jet, 16 passengers can sit comfortably in the 40.4-foot cabin spread across three distinct living areas.

Source: Dassault Aviation

The first area is the club suite, a staple of any private jet featuring four seats in a two-pair configuration.

Each pair is on opposite sides of the 8.5-foot wide cabin, allowing for a large aisle in the middle. This is where the ultra widebody name comes in as the 6X has a wider cabin than anything from Gulfstream or Bombardier.

Moving back in the plane, the next section is the dining and conference area.

The section is typically found on wide-cabin private jets and features a large table that can be used for work or to dine.

Opposite the table is a credenza that can be used to store cabin items and hold food items during the meal service.

In the back of the plane is the lounging area with two divans that can be easily turned into beds for the longer flights of which the 6X is capable.

The two-divan configuration also helps increase the passenger count with each seating up to four passengers.

The jet features an interesting interior in that there are fewer spaces that are truly private.

Customers can opt for clear dividers between sections that create a more open feel.

Natural light was a big feature in designing the jet with the 6X even featuring an overhead skylight in the forward galley and mood lighting.

And there's no shortage of windows on this jet with 15 on each side at head-level. They're the largest to be featured on a Falcon.

The cockpit features the Dassault EASy III cockpit featuring four high-definition display screens and side-stick controls.

Source: Dassault Aviation

Pilots use a computer-like cursor to navigate the system and control the aircraft's avionics suite. Everything from navigation charts to the status of the engines is available at the click of a button.

Each pilot also has access to a heads-up display with new Falcon Eye technology that offers a combined enhanced and synthetic vision.

Source: Dassault Aviation

Sensors on the nose provide data to the display and help pilots see runways and terrain through the clouds and at night.

In designing the flight controls for the jet, Dassault turned to its military aerospace wing that builds fighter jets.

The Digital Flight Control System helps reduce pilot workload by automating some features including the aircraft's trim setting and includes extra protection by not allowing the aircraft to exceed its maximum structural speeds.

Source: Dassault Aviation

The list price for the aircraft in 2018 was $47 million, just slightly more expensive than the comparable Gulfstream G500.

Source: AvBuyer

Now that the unveil is complete, Dassault's flight test team can put the jet through its paces on the long road to certification.

Ground testing will begin first and then the plane will take to the skies. Once certification is achieved, the aircraft can move to the completion stage and deliveries can begin.

Source: Aviation International News

And though a French jet through and through, the interiors will be completed at Dassault's facility in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Dassault expects the 6X to be certified in the next two years with deliveries beginning in 2022.

Source: Aviation International News

It takes Steve Belknap just two hours to go from closing his front door in Scottsdale, AZ, to launching the boat he has moored at a marina in San Diego, CA. It's a convenience the 55-year-old entrepreneur chalks up to one change: commuting by private jet rather than flying commercial.

Before the pandemic, Belknap was a regular flyer for both business and leisure, paying upwards of $1,800 a month. Rarely he'd opt for a charter — 5% of the time, at most, he estimated — but this year, his priorities shifted. 

The impetus was the service offered by Set Jet, a company launched in December 2019 that runs a membership-based program granting access to seats on planes hopscotching around southwest America, as well as offering seasonal services to Mexico and Aspen. Belknap considers the $450 or so he pays per leg with Set Jet more than competitive with a first-class commercial seat on the same routes.  

"But the experience is unbelievable," he told Business Insider. "I fly from a private FBO [fixed-base operator] that's near my home, so I can be there in five minutes, instead of it taking 35 [to Phoenix airport], and there's no need to be there an hour before for the TSA."

More than just convenience — members can grab a seat on an existing flight up to 30 minutes before wheels up — there's ample gladhanding: free valet parking close to the VIP lounge at the terminal, comped WiFi on board, and CRJ200 jets from Bombardier retrofitted from the typical over-50 capacity found on commercial airlines to just 13 to 19 people.

There have been other unexpected bonuses to his new private-first strategy, he said — such as being able to travel alongside a dozen or so other executives. "I've made two investments based on my relationship with people on the plane," Belknap said. "It's almost like getting together at a country club."

Belknap isn't alone. While mass market travel cratered as a result of the pandemic — at one point, more than half the world's planes were grounded— and has only slowly rebounded, private flyinghas boomed. And that pandemic-era surge derives largely from newbies like Belknap. 

Charter specialist VistaJet reported to Business Insider a 320% increase in memberships worldwide to the year ending July 2020, and said that 71% of its requests this summer came from passengers who hadn't regularly flown private before. UK-based jet provider PrivateFly told Business Insider that in Q3 2020, 44% of its flights were for first-time customers, versus 35% over the same period last year.

Belknap's beloved Set Jet saw average passenger numbers per plane increase from one early in 2020 to seven today. And Private Jet Card Comparisons, a buyer's guide to memberships, saw its $250 annual subscriptions rise by 150% since May, founder Doug Gollan told Business Insider.

This surge is likely to hold steady moving forward, experts said, for several reasons – including a pivot by certain jet-set destinations to focus primarily on private charters as their prime market.

Everyone wants to be a VIP at an FBO 

Gollan is a longtime industry executive, including an extended stint as editor of Elite Traveler, the magazine found in most seatbacks on private jets. He turned that firsthand expertise into the foundations of his comparison shopping site, one of the first to offer travelers practical advice on the sector when it launched three years ago, making him well placed to identify the niches of new travelers defecting from American and elsewhere to become VIPs at FBOs. 

"Many people who thought it was silly to spend the extra thirty thousand bucks to fly privately before now think it's stupid to save the money and come down with COVID-19," he said. "It's a really emotional decision." 

Consider retired C-suiters, for example, who might have flown privately when working, but swapped back to first-class commercial after retiring amid more flexible schedules. These high-net worth, high-risk folks are now booking private trips for leisure travel for the first time — in the past, travel was a task that fell in their assistants' fiefdom. Firms like Set Jet have made booking a charter leg simpler and easier than searching Expedia.com.

Lower prices have helped, too: The CARES Act suspended federal excise tax on all domestic flights, commercial or otherwise, shaving 7.5% off the total cost through the end of December.

Reduced commercial schedules have driven defections to the private sector 

"Then you have families with young kids who are going to visit grandparents or have children with underlying conditions, or just don't want to take the risk of flying with the airlines," Gollan said. "And many companies are not spending the T&E  [travel and entertainment] money they allocated for conferences and the like, so when they do have mission-critical business travel, they spend it on flying privately as a duty of care thing."

Convenience is another factor, as Belknap pointed out. Commercial airlines have drastically reduced schedules, whether cutting frequency or service entirely to small cities. Gollan cited a client from Des Moines who used to commute to South America via Miami; pre-pandemic, it was a two-leg journey with a two-hour layover en route. Now, that same businessman must fly first to Chicago, wait four hours, then go down to Miami. He must stay overnight in Florida before leaving for South America — no wonder he's considering switching to charters.

That's what Golden Beach, FL-based Alberto Peisach did. The 50-something CEO of Grupo Phoenix keeps a yacht in the Bahamas, and now prefers to commute there via Tropic Ocean Airways, which operates Cessna 208 Caravan EX seaplanes that can land almost anywhere.

"In this new world where due to the health risks and logistical difficulties, I prefer to charter," Peisach told Business Insider. "I love the flexibility of being able to send my yacht anywhere and have the seaplane land right next to it. One time the crew set up lunch on a little island that was maybe 100 meters long, and the seaplane took us right up to the beach." 

Greg Raiff is the CEO of consultancy Private Jet Services Group. His company's data shows that the average number of passengers on a private jet in 2019 was 1.7. This year, that number has more than doubled. 

Raiff called private flying "a time machine" for its ability to claw back commuting hours, and doesn't expect those who've migrated to charters to willingly switch back. "It's a bit like finally getting your teeth fixed," he said. "They say, 'I don't know what I was waiting for.'"

Canny destinations are repositioning as private jet-first 

Raiff spoke to Business Insider from Anguilla, where he's gone with his family to spend an extended period working remotely at a villa. It's one of several leisure destinations that have pivoted to pitching themselves as primed for one-percenters and private jet tourism.

Anguilla has introduced hefty fees for incoming visitors and throttled commercial airlift. Consider Iceland, too, which has tweaked a remote working program so that it's easier for high-earning foreigners to decamp there for six, uninterrupted, Björk-filled months.

Nowhere, though, has pivoted more to private jets than the Cayman Islands, which has long been one of the world's top charter flight destinations. Mass leisure travel remains suspended, but this British Overseas Territory has introduced a new Global Citizen Concierge program, enticing the wealthy to spend two years working there remotely on a personally tailored program; fees per couple are $1,469 per annum.

Quarantine protocols are strict, but allow well-heeled visitors to wait out their time in five-star hotels if they wish, noted Moses Kirkconnell, the minister of tourism who helped develop this new program. 

"We have no property, income, or corporate tax, so we have to be very conscious that the individuals we attract have purchasing power in our local economy," he said, "Statistics for the region show hotels running at 25% to 30% capacity, so we were looking for low-hanging fruit, a niche market we could capitalize on while we wait for the vaccine to come out."

SEE ALSO: Vacationers already devote 35% of cruise trip budgets to onboard retail purchases — and experts say pandemic protocols will only make duty-free retail more pivotal

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• The aviation industry is experiencing a mass exodus of furloughed airline pilots trying to find work in private aviation. 
• With only so many vacancies to fill, the pilot shortage is gone and replaced by a highly competitive job market. 
• Business Insider spoke to three private aviation executives who revealed what they're looking for when they hire pilots.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Furloughed pilots are hoping to find new homes in the private aviation sector as they get notices from their struggling commercial airline employers.

The private aviation industry is currently experiencing a massive expansion with some firms rushing to purchase more planes and hire additional pilots to fly them. XOJET Aviation, for example, is looking to increase its fleet by 50% and hire between 40 and 45 pilots for every 10 planes it adds. 

Transitioning out of the commercial airliners and into private aircraft is a great opportunity for a pilot to keep their wings and outfly the downturn. However, even the most eager applicant will need to contend with thousands of like-minded colleagues all with comparable levels of experience vying for the few available vacancies.

"I think the last I looked, we had something like 4,000 pilot resumes applying for XOJET Aviation," Kevin Thomas, XOJET Aviation's president and chief operating officer, told Business Insider in an interview. 

Business Insider spoke with three private aviation executives from XOJET, Jet Linx, and Flexjet and learned what they're looking for above all when hiring new pilots to fly their aircraft.

Repositioning from the airlines to the private jet

Whether it be flying passengers for an on-demand charter firm, powerful executives for a large corporation's flight department, or a wealthy family on their private jet, each job in private aviation has its challenges that most pilots never experience at the airlines. That's because being an airline pilot is an impersonal role where the flight crew is separated from passengers by a locked, bulletproof door and all the prep work for a flight is done by a support team.

To land a job in private aviation, however, pilots will need to prove to their prospective employers that they can be active and engaging both in the cockpit and outside of it. Unlike in the airlines, private aircraft pilots are the main point of interaction for passengers since their flights largely operate without gate agents, customer service agents, or flight attendants to act as a buffer between the passenger and pilot. 

"Our pilots are extremely customer-oriented, being frontline representatives of our company from the minute we greet them outside the airplane until we say goodbye," Thomas told Business Insider.

And that's more than just standing in front of the cockpit door after landing and thanking passengers for their business, especially when private aviation firms have a lot of repeat flyers with long memories. Every operation is different – with on-demand charter guests less repetitive than aircraft owners, for example – but the onus is on the pilots to leave a good impression as the sole in-field representatives of the company.  

Interviewers are also looking at personality to determine whether the pilot would be a good fit in the company since private aircraft firms are small and familial operations compared to the airlines. One bad apple, as the saying goes, could spoil the bunch. 

"Once you get into the interview process, there's a lot of things that you then start to measure that you can't see in total times," Jet Linx CEO Jamie Walker told Business Insider. "And that's the fit with our culture and our company and our core values and things like that."

Flexjet, for example, has a membership program where owners are assigned a dedicated flight crew that flies them on nearly every flight. Pilots not only have to fly the plane but foster and maintain positive relationships with the owners to which they're assigned.

"We really do look for individuals who we feel would simultaneously have a servant heart to be great ambassadors for the organization because they're the people that our customers interact with very intimately," Flexjet CEO Michael Silvestro told Business Insider. 

Experience doesn't guarantee a job

The coronavirus pandemic has single-handedly ended the pilot shortage that saw firms struggle to find capable talent and the burden is now on pilots to impress firms, not the other way around. 

Boasting thousands of pilot hours and a long list of aircraft type ratings won't likely be enough to get hired at a private aviation firm, especially when the competition is likely equally or more qualified and also coming from an airline job. 

Complacency and falling behind on skills can also hurt when it comes time for the interview process. Most airline pilots will fly one aircraft for years but it's common in private aviation for pilots to jump between two types of aircraft.

"Just because you have 10,000 hours, doesn't mean you're as proficient as a 3,000-hour pilot," Walker said.

Firms are looking to see whether the skills of the pilots they're hiring match their experience. It's a huge investment for them as nearly all new pilots will need to be trained on new aircraft, which can cost thousands, before they see their first passenger. 

Executives are entrusting their pilots with clients on a level that isn't experienced with airlines and proving that they'll be able to successfully navigate that transition will be crucial in the competitive hiring climate that the private aviation industry is now facing. 

"Being a pilot with a lot of flight time is not enough – we want good people," Thomas said. 

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As Londoners flocked to train stations over the weekend in a last-ditch effort to escape new lockdown restrictions, British high society went to London's private jet terminals to catch charter flights out of the country. 

Parts of the UK entered into a "Tier 4 lockdown" this week amid news of a rapidly spreading new strain of the novel coronavirus. London is among those regions impacted by the lockdown that severely limits travel and mandates residents to "stay at home," unless they have a "reasonable excuse" to leave.

The new lockdown is expected to extend through the Christmas holiday, causing a mass exodus from the city before it became illegal to leave, as the BBC reported. While the masses turned to cars, trains, commercial airliners, and busses to flee the city, those fortunate enough to do so turned to private aviation firms, who've say they've seen an increase in UK bookings from the weekend.

"Enquiries reached a peak yesterday, with many looking to travel to second homes for Christmas or bring forward pre-booked flights with us to warmer destinations such as Dubai or the Maldives," Mark Briffa, the CEO of private charter brokerage Air Partner, told Business Insider.

Read more: Private jet industry CEOs say business will boom as the wealthy abandon airlines and reveal what they're doing now to take advantage

Fleeing the country was made more difficult as the rest of the world closed their borders to Britain amid news of a deadlier strain of the novel coronavirus. A March redux, over 40 countries from Canada to Singapore, Argentina to Hong Kong have banned flights from the UK, the New York Times reports, or are requiring quarantines for inbound passengers. 

"As some countries suspend travel to and from the UK, many of our clients are making last-minute arrangements with us to leave the country before borders close," Briffa said.

Lockdowns have bolstered private aviation travel as the wealthy are willing to shell out tens of thousands of dollars for safe passage away from the hardships at home. While it's helped to keep the private aviation industry afloat, it's also highlighted a division in how the wealthy are thriving during the pandemic in luxury while everyday people struggle through it.

SEE ALSO: The Boeing 737 Max returns to US skies next week with American Airlines — here's how to tell if you're flying on one

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Travelers filled London's St. Pancras International on Sunday looking to flee the country on what they thought would be the last train out of London bound for Paris.

Source: MyLondon

The next day, rail operator Eurostar — which connects the UK with mainland Europe via the famed Channel Tunnel — canceled its trains from London as France, the Netherlands, and Belgium closed its borders with Great Britain.

Source: Eurostar

Similar queues formed at Heathrow Airport on Sunday to board last-minute flights before airlines began cancellations.

Source: Express

And while the train stations remained empty...

The wealthy flocked to London's smaller airports like Biggin Hill, Luton, and Stansted.

"The trend we are seeing of our clients leaving the UK will likely increase over the next few days as the threat of a UK border closure looms, and as other countries continue to impose temporary bans on arrivals from the UK," Briffa said.

Private aviation is billed as the safer alternative and more reliable as airlines have been canceling flights due to lockdown restrictions throughout the pandemic. 

The luxurious exodus continues a trend that started in March as the wealthy have been turning to private jets in fear of commercial airline travel in the wake of the pandemic, despite the best effort of airlines to calm an anxious traveling public.

"On Monday, we saw a huge surge in clients requesting to fly out of the UK, so much so that demand reached similar levels to what we usually experience in normal peak summer season," Toby Edwards, co-CEO of private charter brokerage Victor, told Business Insider in a statement. "And just like in peak season, aircraft availability is a challenge."

Victor saw a 167% increase in bookings with all UK flights since the lockdown announcement on Saturday being booked on a "go now" or "go tomorrow" basis.

The average time between booking and departure in December was less than a day compared to 23 days this month last year.

"The list of destinations still open includes countries such as Spain, Greece, and Dubai," Andy Christie, group private jets director at private jet brokerage Air Charter Service, told Business Insider in a statement. "However we are still monitoring the situation, which is changing rapidly."

As Spain's El Pais reported on Monday, Spain has not followed suit with European counterparts and has allowed flights from the UK, provided passengers come with a negative COVID-19 test in hand.

Testing for entry has been a key strategy in reopening the world's borders and even facilitating domestic travel between certain states but travelers can be infected by the virus and still test negative before symptoms appear.

"We actually saw a 30% increase in bookings over the weekend compared with the corresponding weekend last year mainly with people travelling home for Christmas," Christie said.

Mainly the areas of the UK surrounding London and extending as far as the English Channel are in Tier 4. Other populated regions including The Midlands, West Country, North Country, and Scotland are still in varying stages of lockdown but yet not at the strictest level, as the UK's Express outlines. 

Some private jets found on Flightradar 24 were heading across the Atlantic as not all Western Hemisphere countries have restricted flights from the UK.

The US and many Caribbean countries, among others, are still welcoming UK travelers.

Private jets often have their flight plan data shielded from public view so there's little way of knowing where all of these jets are headed or if all are carrying British citizens fleeing lockdown.

Border closures with the UK can also lead to an influx of flights to the country as residents don't want to be stranded abroad.

"If this situation continues we will expect scheduled airlines to start cancelling more inbound flights as well as outbound, and as a result, we could see an increase of private jet bookings with more people trying to get back to the UK for Christmas who have seen their scheduled flights cancel," Christie said.

Known as repatriation flights, these flights are typically reserved for emergency situations.

"Currently, the UK border remains open, but if it were to close, there would be very few exemptions for those wanting to travel in or out of the country – it would be limited to business travel and emergency evacuation flights," Briffa said.