LUXE JET IS A HEAVENLY WAY TO FLY
Crystal Skye’s over-the-top amenities designed for high-end clients
The Crystal Skye luxury private charter jet went on display Wednesday at Opalocka Executive Airport, boasting a cabin with lie-flat beds, a 300-bottle wine cellar and a dining area that converts into a game room. The Boeing 777, which normally would seat about 380 passengers, is designed for 88 people and can fly for 19.5 hours without a stop. Luxury hospitality firm Crystal’s latest project is staffed by a multilingual crew of 20, including a sommelier and executive chef. A National Hockey League team has already chartered the jet to travel to China for a game.
An uber-luxury jetliner called Crystal Skye turned heads in South Florida on Wednesday as would-be customers toured its eye-opening cabin equipped with 180-degree lie-flat beds, interactive 24-inch flat-screen TVs, music library, social lounge with bar and a 300-bottle wine cellar.
The customized wide-bodied Boeing 777 is one of the latest projects of the luxury hospitality firm Crystal, which plans to deploy the private jet for charters to individual travelers and specialty groups who seek upscale and curated trips or bucket-list vacations.
The jet’s mission is to ferry the well-heeled to exotic destinations around the world, the stuff of dreams for most travelers, but within easy reach for the deeppocketed and ultra-wealthy.
The plane, which normally can carry about 380 people in economy class, is configured for just 88 passengers, and can fly non-stop for up to 19.5 hours between destinations, said Edie Rodriguez, Crystal president and CEO.
Sports and professional organizations, corporate groups and world leaders seeking upscale air accommodations also can charter Crystal Skye, Rodriguez said during a tour of the plane at Opa Locka Executive Airport.
“There are many, many different organizations that are looking for group travel in a luxurious manner for up to 88 people, and we’re delighted to be able to now deliver that,” she said.
For example, a wealthy couple is chartering Crystal Skye for a family reunion experience, while a National Hockey League team has chartered it to travel to China for a game, she noted.
A South Florida client is also chartering the jet for trips to and from the region, she said.
The jet includes six bathrooms with piped music, free Wi-Fi and phone call service to anywhere in the world and a multilingual crew of 20 that speaks 35 languages, Rodriguez said. The crew includes a sommelier, cocktail mixologist and executive chef.
Mortgage banker John Cosculluela, president and CEO of American Bancshares Mortgage in Miami Lakes, was among the potential customers touring the private jet.
“I’m sourcing different venues for a president’s club event,” he said. “It’s beautiful. It’s an amazing experience catered to individuals’ needs and a dream location for an event.”
The Opa Locka airport and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport will be two local bases among others that can accommodate the premium jet when it visits South Florida, Rodriguez noted.
Last week, the company’s Crystal AirCruises division took delivery of the jet from Greenpoint Technologies in Seattle. It will be christened in Las Vegas on Saturday.
On Sept. 30, Crystal Skye will jet off on its inaugural Asia charter from Hong Kong on a 10-day trip, organized by Crystal’s parent company, Genting Hong Kong.
Since Genting acquired Crystal, then called Crystal Cruises in 2015, the luxury travel provider’s presence and brand recognition has been growing in the Asia Pacific region.
Under Genting, the Los Angelesbased company which maintains an office in Miami, has been working to expand its luxury brand to include river and expedition yachts, newer ocean-going vessels with private residences and its Crystal Luxury Air small-jet and Crystal AirCruises divisions.
Later this year, Crystal will operate its Crystal Serenity ship on a series of Caribbean sailings from Port Everglades. In 2018, sister ship Crystal Symphony will also arrive at the port for a similar deployment.