In a time when airline travel is heavily restricted, it certainly feels like a good time to dream about what is possible – rather than the reality currently facing us. If you take a look over at the official TSA numbers website, you’ll see that total traveler throughput for the same week in December 2019 as compared to December 2020 is about 25%. Coronavirus has left the air travel industry looking pretty grim, despite all the bailouts.
With vaccines starting up around the world it’s time for a glimmer of hope. And with a glimmer of hope means it’s time to start dreaming about where we’d like to fly, when we’d like to fly, and even how we’d like to fly. And that doesn’t just mean by private jet.
If we’re talking about ideal air travel, it’d certainly be a larger model Boeing aircraft. The Boeing 777 is a clever choice, particularly for extra long haul travel. The Boeing 777-200LR is already used on the world’s second-longest flight by Qatar: the Doha-Auckland route, coming in at a distance of a whopping 14,535km and almost 18 hours in flight time.
The Boeing 777 flying casino concept
Now that we have the 777 as our aircraft of choice, it’s time to introduce the opulent design of the airborne casino.
Airjet Designs, who tout themselves as an “avant-garde luxury design studio specialized in private jet interiors” have come up with a concept space fitted to a 777 body.
The interior is known as the Casino Jet Lounge, a modern take on decor and design principles from the 60s and early 70s. It’s a clean, lounge/club like feel, with throwbacks to the opulence that air travel embodied in earlier decades.
With an interactive bar, holographic screens, comfy seating, and a feeling of zen, the interior space takes fliers from day through to night. The design incorporates natural materials such as white stone, bamboo, and white leather, to help passengers relax and forget they’re in a tin box flying through the sky. And it works.
The pièce de résistance (appropriate, given the design studio is from Toulouse, France) is the blackjack table at one end, which also faces the bar. The interior space gives us throwbacks of a James Bond style setup.
Is it really possible to run a flying casino?
At present, the casino fit-out is only a design, created for private travel. Is commercial air travel allowed to have a casino in the sky?
Well, if the cruise line industry is anything to go by, then it may be possible. Cruise Liners often have casinos on their lower decks, where patrons can play famous slot machines or even take on the tables. This is with the chance of winning real money. Even though ships may be in international waters, they have set out rules governing play at sea.
However, these water-based casinos have existed for a long time: there are no rules covering air travel play for casinos like there are for cruise ships. The airlines would have to lobby for being able to conduct these services. On a private jet it’s behind closed doors, and owners probably insist they’re using play money to avoid falling foul of the law.
It is possible to play at the casino in the air already though, so long as there is WiFi available on board. This can be done by choosing from a list of VPNs, connecting, and hitting your favorite online casino. Not quite as glamorous, but still does the trick for those who can’t afford to deck out their private 777 with a casino.
A design for everyone
Dare to dream! If you take a look at Airjet Designs other fit-outs, you’ll see the enticing Oasis, with sprawling semi-circle couches, a large dining table, and gold accents throughout for their A340 design. There’s also the villa-esque Acquario design which includes a full double bedroom, cozy lounge area, and 8 seat dining table, all in a vibrant and yet calming sea theme.
While most of us will never find ourselves in a large private jet like these, it’s certainly good fun to think of the possibilities.