I S S U E 2 9 S E P, 2 0 2 5
November Issue # 30
Story by: Martin Waletzko
Business & Go-to-Market Strategist, Founder @ WEYOU
P A V I N A C A L L I E S P A P E / C A L L I E S D E S I G N
N A V I G A T E / E X P L O R E
T H E M A G A Z I N E
M A I N P A G E
You'll find all of JCF Magazine's primary content right here on our main page. From day one, we sought to put all of our current "issue to issue" stories and features all on the same page. Why? Because it requires no thumbing or linking to other pages to see all of the latest issue. Our subscribers love it and so will you! So for all the newest articles, news, features, ads and more, look no further than our main page
Just scroll, read, discover and enjoy!
Owner / Operators and Flight Departments, Welcome Aboard.
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Story by: Martin Waletzko
Business & Go-to-Market Strategist, Founder @ WEYOU
Five years ago when we launched Freshbook Magazine, it had one purpose: to pull together the entire global community of interior related companies - Cabin Suppliers, Completion Centers and Design Studios. In fact we're only one of two magazines in the world that focuses entirely on jet cabin interiors - and we're the sole such all digital publication.
But today, we're extremely proud to announce a NEW permanent segment to our magazine. Up until little more than a year ago, 100% of our subscribers and social media followers were 'companies' in one of the three categories above. Today, however, Owner / Operators & Flight Departments account for almost 9% of our subscriber base - and it's growing. It's been a very organic trend and without solicitation. Yet, as you might imagine, we're very happy about this new top-tier subset of Freshbook subscribers, a group whose newfound attention adds obvious value to the advertisers and readers we serve!
Check out our exclusive, entirely dedicated page for this new very special audience!
Owner / Operators, Welcome Aboard.
Issue # 31 MARCH 2026 Globally recognized leader for Jet Cabin Interior News, Trends, and Innovations
a Jet Media LLC company All Rights Reserved
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P R I V A T E J E T I N T E R I O R S C A P E
A curated compilation of some of our favorite awarded designs from 2025.
Jet Aviation - Project CIRRUS / Gulfstream G-700
Article by
R I C H A R D R O S E M A N
N
K, so picture this: You've just shown up at the completion center to take delivery of your $85ML state-of-the-art business jet with an avionics and connectivity package that would make SpaceX jealous, plus enough range to fly non-stop to almost anywhere your heart desires. You step aboard your freshly minted jet and spy the beautifully upholstered VIP seats with the Italian leathers and plated metal trims you chose months earlier with your designer.
But over the course of the next hour or so, as you sit in your chair anticipating the maiden flight back home, an ever so slight, and not entirely unfamiliar disappointment, begins to tug at you. Why is it that after all these decades, four previous aircraft, and stratospheric costs, the seat's comfort still falls way short of what you enjoy at home? Instead, both the rigid profile and the comfort feels like it was designed during the Reagan administration—because, quite possibly, it was.
Welcome to one of aviation's most puzzling paradoxes: Why do VIP aircraft seats lag so dramatically behind the ergonomic marvels we enjoy in our living rooms, offices, and even our cars? It's a question that haunts aircraft owners, frustrates completion centers, and keeps chiropractors in business from Teterboro to Dubai.
othing starts without a design...and nothing commands our attention like a great one. But a design, like the product of any creative endeavour, is ultimately judged by the pair of eyes looking at it. Yet within the framework of a design competition or an open evaluation conducted by hundreds, or even thousands, it's almost inevitable that one or two designs will find favor, over the others, among a large portion of that audience. Does it mean those designs are better? It's an unanswerable question of course. But it certainly means those few designs are standing out, again and again - above the rest - by those who have been asked to evaluate them.
In this piece, we took a look back at the winners of several globally recognized aviation design competitions - and selected some of our own favorites to show as some of the "best of the best" designs, by some of the top interior architects and designers over 2025.
We hope you like our internally curated selection of interior cabin concepts. We recognize your own preferences may not align with ours completely - but certainly we can all agree that beautiful design is a remarkable thing to behold - and always worth a second look!
Story by: Melissa Tokoriyama
Special Features Contributor
Article by
R I C H A R D R O S E M A N
N
othing starts without a design...and nothing commands our attention like a great one. But a design, like the product of any creative endeavour, is ultimately judged by the pair of eyes looking at it. Yet within the framework of a design competition or an open evaluation conducted by hundreds, or even thousands, it's almost inevitable that one or two designs will find favor, over the others, among a large portion of that audience. Does it mean those designs are better? It's an unanswerable question of course. But it certainly means those few designs are standing out, again and again - above the rest - by those who have been asked to evaluate them.
In this piece, we took a look back at the winners of several globally recognized aviation design competitions - and selected some of our own favorites to show as some of the "best of the best" designs, by some of the top interior architects and designers over 2025.
We hope you like our internally curated selection of interior cabin concepts. We recognize your own preferences may not align with ours completely - but certainly we can all agree that beautiful design is a remarkable thing to behold - and always worth a second look!
Jet Cabin Freshbook LLC - A Jet Media company
All rights reserved
Continued Below...
Private aircraft are expensive. Expensive to own, expensive to operate. They're an asset, often a business tool. But that doesn't mean they have to be boring. Take a look around. Even being conservative, 70% of all private jets out there are monochromatic, beige on beige on beige interiors - devoid of art, devoid of focal points and above all, devoid of any personality. And make no mistake, aircraft interiors can have very distinct personalities. As surely as they can have no personality, they can have your personality.
REX Aircraft's Versalles Textures is all about personality and personalization. It's about projecting who you are, your unique taste, style, and interests. And...it's not just about impressing your guests. It's about adding something of yourself to a space you occupy for hours at a time, getting from place to place.
It's the cufflinks on your shirt, the Cartier Roadster on your wrist. It's the YOU that you show up in.
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In July of 2025, Woojae Sohn, a student at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Freshman Won top prize and $100,000 in Flexjet’s Project LXi – Design the Ultimate Private Jet Interior Contest.
Woojae Sohn - Gulfstream G-650 Concept
As with most winners, clean lines and minimalistic themes continued to dominate througout the 2025 awards season. Voltare's entry is a good example of clean, uncluttered design - the stylistic preference of most owners today.
Crisp, clean lines and muted palettes extend the perfect welcome to travelers. On a transatlantic flight, you want quiet, relaxed and restful. Paperclip Designs hits the desired mark here in this super first class private compartment.
Bulkhead boredom is just boring . . . but personality is limitless.
H E C T O R. L O P E Z
Versalles Textures: A New Approach to Surface Design in Private Aircraft Interiors
Aircraft interior design has long balanced two competing demands: the precise engineering requirements of aviation and the comfort and aesthetic expectations of private clients. Every element within a cabin must meet rigorous performance standards while simultaneously contributing to an environment that feels considered, refined, and personal. A new surface design collection called Versalles Textures addresses both demands simultaneously, through an approach that treats cabin surfaces not as passive finishing elements, but as functional contributors to the overall interior experience.
The collection centers on a faceted geometric surface treatment applied across a range of interior materials. Rather than presenting flat or uniformly curved planes, the geometry introduces controlled variations in elevation across the surface — subtle enough not to disrupt the visual continuity of the interior, but pronounced enough to meaningfully change how light behaves across it. The faceted structure distributes ambient cabin lighting across multiple angles, reducing harsh reflections and creating a more even, diffused quality of illumination throughout the space. According to the designers, this is not purely an aesthetic choice. Balanced, low-glare lighting has a well-documented effect on perceived comfort, particularly during long-haul flights where passengers spend extended periods within the environment.
Making a PERSONAL STATEMENT
From The Moment You Step Aboard.
A D D I T I O N A L D E P A R T M E N T S & R E S O U R C E S
C A B I N S U P P L I E R S - W O R L D W I D E
Supplier + contains more than 400 of the top cabin supplier groups around the world. 48 separate categories broken into Design & Technical disciplines. Supplier + is stands as the most comprehensive, fully managed roster in the industry
G L O B A L D E S I G N S T U D I O R O S T E R
Global Design Roster is the world's only managed listing of the top aviation interior designers and architects in the industry, globally. GDR includes not only the renown independents, but the top design chiefs of major completion centers.
C O M P L E T I O N C E N T E R S ( G L O B A L)
Without completion centers, none of the beautiful designs would ever see the light of day. We've compiled a comprehensive global listing of the world's top centers - all for you in helping to source just the right asset for your next project
O W N E R / O P E R A T O R S
NEW!
Brand new, exclusively for our Owner / Operators and Flight Departments. Offering valuable Resources including Shard Articles, Lifestyle, Destinations and our own curated assemblage of Luxury accoutrement from the top brands in the world.
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Voltare Aviation - Boeing Business Jet
Design et al / International Yacht & Aviation Awards 2025
VVIP Completions Winner
BBJ Max 8 Main Cabin Concept
All rights reserved - JetCabin Freshbook Magazine, a Jet Media Company
Issue 29 / September, 2025
A Legacy of Beige Leather and Burl Wood
Walk into a typical business jet from the early 2000s, or even one delivered as recently as a decade ago, and you would likely encounter a predictable palette: cream leather seats with contrast stitching, high-gloss burl wood veneers, brass or gold-plated fixtures, and carpeting in conservative navy or burgundy tones. The overall effect was one of traditional corporate luxury, the kind of aesthetic that would not look out of place in a 1980s executive boardroom. This design language prioritized signals of wealth and status over innovation or personal expression.
The reasons for this conservatism were manifold. Business jets are expensive assets, often costing anywhere from $3 million for a light jet to over $75 million for a large-cabin, long-range aircraft. Owners and operators were understandably risk-averse when it came to interior specifications, concerned about resale value and broad market appeal. The result was a kind of design paralysis, a default to safe, traditional choices that would offend no one but excite few.
Meanwhile, other luxury sectors were undergoing radical transformations. Automotive interior design, freed by advances in materials science and manufacturing technology, began incorporating carbon fiber, Alcantara, and innovative lighting solutions. Brands like Tesla eliminated physical buttons entirely, replacing them with seamless touchscreens. Yacht designers were creating interiors that rivaled the world's finest hotels, with beach clubs, infinity pools, and glass-walled master suites. High-end residential design embraced minimalism, natural materials, and the integration of smart home technology that could control everything from lighting to climate with a whisper or a tap.
A curated compilation of some of our favorite awarded designs from 2025.
Jet Aviation - Project CIRRUS / Gulfstream G-700
Article by
R I C H A R D R O S E M A N
N
othing starts without a design...and nothing commands our attention like a great one. But a design, like the product of any creative endeavour, is ultimately judged by the pair of eyes looking at it. Yet within the framework of a design competition or an open evaluation conducted by hundreds, or even thousands, it's almost inevitable that one or two designs will find favor, over the others, among a large portion of that audience. Does it mean those designs are better? It's an unanswerable question of course. But it certainly means those few designs are standing out, again and again - above the rest - by those who have been asked to evaluate them.
In this piece, we took a look back at the winners of several globally recognized aviation design competitions - and selected some of our own favorites to show as some of the "best of the best" designs, by some of the top interior architects and designers over 2025.
We hope you like our internally curated selection of interior cabin concepts. We recognize your own preferences may not align with ours completely - but certainly we can all agree that beautiful design is a remarkable thing to behold - and always worth a second look!
Article by
R I C H A R D R O S E M A N
N
othing starts without a design...and nothing commands our attention like a great one. But a design, like the product of any creative endeavour, is ultimately judged by the pair of eyes looking at it. Yet within the framework of a design competition or an open evaluation conducted by hundreds, or even thousands, it's almost inevitable that one or two designs will find favor, over the others, among a large portion of that audience. Does it mean those designs are better? It's an unanswerable question of course. But it certainly means those few designs are standing out, again and again - above the rest - by those who have been asked to evaluate them.
In this piece, we took a look back at the winners of several globally recognized aviation design competitions - and selected some of our own favorites to show as some of the "best of the best" designs, by some of the top interior architects and designers over 2025.
We hope you like our internally curated selection of interior cabin concepts. We recognize your own preferences may not align with ours completely - but certainly we can all agree that beautiful design is a remarkable thing to behold - and always worth a second look!
3
CIRRUS - Business Jet Concept Design by Jet Aviation Design
Jet Aviation - Project CIRRUS / Gulfstream G-700 Main Cabin Concept
Awarded by: Design et al / International Yacht & Aviation Awards 2025
Minimalism is not for everyone - but more and more customers around the world are opting for some level of minimal design for their aircraft cabins. Why? Because when you are relegated to a tube for 8, 10 or 12 hours, you want restful. You don't want anything screaming at you.
Gulfstream G-800 / Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation
Awarded by: Design et al / International Yacht & Aviation Awards
In July of 2025, Woojae Sohn, a student at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Freshman Won top prize and $100,000 in Flexjet’s Project LXi – Design the Ultimate Private Jet Interior Contest.
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Paperclip Design Ltd - First-Class Suite / Wide-Body Commercial
In July of 2025, Woojae Sohn, a student at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Freshman Won top prize and $100,000 in Flexjet’s Project LXi – Design the Ultimate Private Jet Interior Contest.
Image by: Business Jet Interiors Magazine
Robin Dunlop & Marie Waenderies / ALTEA
In July of 2025, Woojae Sohn, a student at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Freshman Won top prize and $100,000 in Flexjet’s Project LXi – Design the Ultimate Private Jet Interior Contest.
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As with most winners, clean lines and minimalistic themes continued to dominate througout the 2025 awards season. Voltare's entry is a good example of clean, uncluttered design - the stylistic preference of most owners today.
Robin Dunlop & Marie Waenderies hit the perfect balance of architectural proportion and form in their G-700 concept. Adding the monochromatic palette and the playful carpet places this entry into the category of "seductive"
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M & R Associates Design - Project Eysium / BBJ 737-8
In July of 2025, Woojae Sohn, a student at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Freshman Won top prize and $100,000 in Flexjet’s Project LXi – Design the Ultimate Private Jet Interior Contest.
Project Elysium by M&R Associates Design is a superb example of 'less is more'. Restraint is one of the most powerful tools in a designer's arsenal. Knowing when is too much is vitally important in creating extraordinary jet interiors.
This relationship between surface geometry and light is central to understanding what Versailles is attempting to do. Traditional interior surfaces — whether flat panels, wrapped components, or upholstered elements — tend to be designed primarily for visual appearance, with their behavior under light considered as a secondary factor. Versalles inverts that priority, treating the light interaction as a design parameter in its own right. The result is a surface that reads differently depending on viewing angle and lighting conditions, introducing a degree of visual dynamism that flat surfaces simply can’t achieve. The designers describe this quality as allowing the surface to "evolve" with the environment around it — a somewhat lyrical way of saying that the material remains visually interesting across varying conditions rather than appearing static.
The collection works across four primary material categories: leather, carbon fiber, wood, and technical textiles. Each brings distinct properties to the overall palette, and the design intent is for these materials to be used in combination rather than in isolation, creating interiors where contrasting textures and material identities contribute to a coherent spatial experience.
Who We Are
Photo by: Dave Koch
JET CABIN FRESHBOOK Magazine is the world's only all-digital publication focussed entirely on jet interiors. We do not publish broad spectrum aviation news or content. The magazine and it's goals were an outgrowth of our founder's career-long profession as a designer of VVIP aircraft interiors. His singularly focussed goal in establishing JCF Magazine was to present Designers, Completion Centers, Flight Departments and Purchasing Agents with the very latest and most innovative interior related products and services by the top cabin suppliers from around the world. JCF provides in-depth coverage of the latest design trends, new materials, emerging technologies and continually showcases the world's top designers. To this day JCF Magazine maintains the most comprehensive categorized listing of Cabin Supplier Groups - worldwide.
JCF Magazine is also proud to maintain the world's only fully comprehensive global listing of top aviation interior designers from around the world. GLOBAL DESIGN ROSTER was developed exclusively for Operators & Flight Departments in need of design resources as they approach new projects. Each of the more than sixty renown designers have been vetted and most have OEM certifications and other industry accepted credentials and awards.
Our key areas of coverage are: Interior Cabin Design / Cabin hygiene / Cabin management • Food & Galley Service • Completions and Refurbishment / Carpet & Flooring / IFE and CMS / Lavs / Lighting / Seating /Textiles and leather / Trends & Emerging Technologies - and all relevant news directly related to interiors.
Jet Cabin Freshbook Magazine is a Jet Media company . Santa Fe, NM (USA) Founder / Editor: Richard Roseman
info@freshbook.aero ph: +1 (214) 415.3492. Advertising Opportunities Editorial: editorial@freshbook.aero Archive: Past Issues
ROSEN Aviation hints at the future of monitors and viewable entertainment screens
Minimal, monochromatic themes are obviously not for every customer - but the trend is nonethelss real. Most customers are opting for the simpler themes and palletes, but unlike what we see in each of the images here, the infusion of color and warmth are accomplished via carry-on amenities, such as blankets, lamps, art and additional throw pillows.
Fontainebleau Aviation
I N T H I S I S S U E
J A N U A R Y F E A T U R E A R T I C L E S
By: M a t t h e w B r e n n e r
For decades, the world of business aviation has represented the pinnacle of luxury travel, yet paradoxically, the interiors of these multimillion-dollar aircraft have often felt frozen in time. While automotive designers pushed boundaries with innovative materials and sculptural forms, yacht interiors evolved into floating masterpieces of contemporary design, and residential spaces embraced minimalism and smart technology, business jet cabins remained stubbornly wedded to an aesthetic vocabulary that felt increasingly dated. The question is not whether these aircraft were luxurious, they certainly were, but rather whether they represented the cutting edge of design thinking. Until recently, the answer was a resounding no.
Pontificating the advanced future of IFE and passenger interface.
The Weight of Regulation Inhibitor
Part of aviation's design lag can be attributed to the unique constraints of the medium itself. Aircraft interiors must comply with stringent safety regulations that simply do not apply to cars, boats, or homes. Every material used in a cabin must meet flammability standards. Every component must be tested and certified. Weight is a critical concern, as every additional pound reduces range, increases fuel consumption, and affects performance. These constraints create a challenging environment for designers who might otherwise experiment with novel materials or radical forms.
The certification process for aircraft modifications is also notoriously lengthy and expensive. Installing a new type of seat, switching to a different wood veneer, or incorporating a custom lighting system can require extensive documentation, testing, and approval from aviation authorities. This bureaucratic reality discourages experimentation and innovation, particularly for completion centers and refurbishment specialists working on tight timelines and budgets.
Yet these same constraints exist in automotive design, where safety regulations are equally stringent and weight considerations are paramount for fuel efficiency and performance. The difference is that the automotive industry has historically invested far more heavily in research and development for interior design, treating the cabin as a critical differentiator in a competitive market. Aviation manufacturers, by contrast, often treated the interior as an afterthought, something to be specified by the buyer rather than a core element of the product offering.
The HIPSTER seat, by Agnes Guiu Design / Paris
Just about every man under the age of sixty has at least one of these two chairs in their home, office or seaside villa. The designs themselves are iconic and timeless. But more that that, they're hip! They look cool and to not have one, is well, ya just can't have that.
The truth is, it's kind of hard to argue with, right? The whole reason why these chairs are timeless is because the're beautiful to look at - seductive even. They are as ecocative to the eye as they are to your anatomy.
Personalization
STATEMENT
Is it just an aircraft to get you from place to place...or does it make a statement?
The decision of course, always belongs with the owner. But when you speak to designers, they will all tell you that often owners simply go with the standard....the boring, the stayed, simply because they aren't aware of alternate possibilities, the transformative magic that is available, today. And how for minimal cost, their aircraft can literally take on the look and feel of a one-off, custom designed interior; one that reflects their own personality.
Whether Versalles Textures represents a meaningful advance in aviation interior design or a well-executed iteration on existing approaches will ultimately depend on how the collection performs in completed installations and how it is received by the designers and clients who commission private aircraft interiors. But the framework it proposes — surfaces engineered for their sensory behavior rather than their decorative value alone — reflects a a unique and impressive new direction. It's a direction the industry appears to be taking seriously, and one that is likely to continue shaping how private aviation interiors are conceived and specified in the years ahead.
In the late eighties the internet exploded, but it was far from what it is today. Most heads of state and billionaires of the day were largely unexposed to global design trends and therefore focused on regional influences.
The conversion of large transport category jets to private or head of state, was also still in its infancy. The purchasers of these aircraft, by and large, were Middle Eastern heads of state. And the money was still fairly new. They wanted opulence - and in many cases, that, in and of itself, was the opening design brief.
R E C U R I N G S E G M E N T S
You'll find all of JCF Magazine's primary content right here on our main page. From day one, we sought to put all of our current "issue to issue" stories and features all on the same page. Why? Because it requires no thumbing or linking to other pages to see all of the latest issue. Our
You'll find all of JCF Magazine's primary content right here on our main page. From day one, we sought to put all of our current "issue to issue" stories and features all on the same page. Why? Because it requires no thumbing or linking to other pages to see all of the latest issue. Our
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You'll find all of JCF Magazine's primary content right here on our main page. From day one, we sought to put all of our current "issue to issue" stories and features all on the same page. Why? Because it requires no thumbing or linking to other pages to see all of the latest issue. Our
All right here on our main page - each and every issue
Personal entertainment suites (a.k.a. Man Caves) will never go out of style. Despite evolving technologies, these elements will remain fairly simple. His or her favorite adult beverage, a sound dampened private cabin, and some dedicated streaming content.
The Rise of the Completion Center Design Studio
Another factor driving change has been the evolution of aircraft completion centers from technical facilities into design studios. Companies like Comlux, AMAC Aerospace, and Jet Aviation have invested in bringing world-class interior designers onto their teams, individuals with backgrounds in yacht design, automotive interiors, and high-end residential work. These designers have challenged the conventions of aircraft interiors, asking fundamental questions about how space is used, how materials can be applied, and how technology can be integrated more seamlessly.
The results have been transformative. Recent projects have featured interiors with clean, architectural lines, neutral color palettes that emphasize materiality over ornamentation, and innovative uses of stone, metal, and textured fabrics that would have been unthinkable a decade ago. Lighting design, long neglected in aviation, has become a focal point, with layered systems that can transform the mood of a cabin throughout a flight. Technology integration has become far more sophisticated, with wireless charging built into surfaces, hidden displays that emerge when needed, and control systems that are genuinely intuitive.
By the time we hit the early 2000s, the evolution was dramatically advancing. Clean lines, simpler architecture and understated palletes were becoming more common. The practice was becoming more globally adopted by designers and owners also were eagerly accepting the more modern themes,
By 2016, the VVIP aircraft world was given perhaps its biggest example of the new trend. As most of us already know. the above was the very first 787 Dreamliner interior - by Kestral Aviation. It was significant because it was the first head-to-toe VVIP 787. But it was also significant, because it and many other projects of the era represented a turning point in the way the design of top end jet cabin interiors were being approached. Fussy details and overly busy designs were giving way to cleaner, more minimalist themes - and it was happening quickly.
You'd think that if you could afford your own private jet, you could have it kitted out however you liked. Eames-style chairs? Naturally. A minimalist aesthetic that would make a Milanese architect weep with joy? Absolutely. But ask for seats that don't look like they belong in the business class cabin of a 1987 transatlantic flight, and suddenly the laws of physics and aviation regulators have opinions.
Private aviation designer Aurora Saboir recently told the Wall Street Journal, “Virtually every client that walks through my door has the same wistful request: make the seats slimmer. The problem, she explains, is that aircraft seats are bulky for very good reason. Beneath all that sumptuous leather and hand-stitched upholstery lurks a fortress of metal and foam, engineered to withstand 16 times the force of gravity in a forward crash. Never mind the fact that the human body can only survive about 9 Gs, but I digress. “It's not glamorous,” says Saboir, “but it does keep people alive, which most clients ultimately agree is a reasonable trade-off.”
The Changing Demographics Of Ownership
The recent shift in business jet interior design can be traced, in part, to changing ownership demographics. The traditional buyer profile, a corporate executive or established entrepreneur in their fifties or sixties, is being supplemented by a younger, more diverse cohort of owners. Tech entrepreneurs, entertainment industry figures, and international business leaders are bringing different aesthetic sensibilities and expectations to their aircraft purchases.
This new generation of buyers grew up with Apple products, stayed in design hotels, and drove cars with thoughtfully crafted interiors. They expected the same level of design sophistication from their aircraft. They were less interested in signaling old-money status through traditional luxury cues and more interested in creating personalized spaces that reflected their individual tastes and lifestyles. They wanted their jets to feel like an extension of their contemporary homes, not like a boardroom from a previous era.
But here’s the thing. While I have great respect for my friend and colleague, Ms. Saboir and her assertion that this “fortress of metal and foam” is necessary to save our lives, I’m left wondering why that same fortress of metal and foam is not necessary in saving the lives of “coach passengers” :)) When was the last time any of us took a close look at coach class seats on our favorite commuter airline? The face of my I-phone is fatter! And they’re getting thinner. Just last month, Southwest Airlines revealed its seats will be getting even thinner, in order to “cram” (my word, not theirs) more passengers in.
Respectfully, I don’t think the ‘safety’ argument holds up! But we'll come back to that.
This seat-slimming challenge is just one skirmish in a much larger battle being fought at altitude. As the ultra-wealthy increasingly treat flying private less as a mode of transport and more as a floating headquarters — and some bosses are now working for months at a time from their yachts — interior designers are being tasked with performing near-miraculous feats of spatial ingenuity. The brief: make a tube hurtling through the stratosphere feel like a Hamptons estate. Every square inch must pull triple duty, satisfying the competing demands of function, comfort, regulatory compliance, and the client's very particular opinions about throw pillows.
For Saboir, and many other top aviation interior designers, the constraints of a tube become an invitation to obsess over the details – and that’s what they’re paid to do. But it’s usually stitch patterns, leather quilt designs and custom carpets. And while there’s always been plenty of customer demands focused on seat comfort (an entire other subject), NO one until recently has challenged the deep, foam-dense cushiness of VIP airplane seats – be it commercial first-class or a wide-body flying palaces. I mean, thick is good, right? Fatter is better. Gimme that deep cushy seat and my lap blanket!
But, that just ain’t what’s happening anymore folks. In case you haven’t noticed, billionaires are getting younger. They’re not angling for inlaid burlwood bulkheads and gold faucets. And neither are today’s top designers. They want clean, ultra-modern cabins. And when it comes to chairs, they don’t want fat. They don’t want bulky…and above all, they don’t want grandpa’s Barcalounger in the middle of their main cabin, screwing up the vibe! They want chairs that mimic the form and aesthetic of their Van Der Rohe Barcelona or Eames Chairs.
Does it matter to these young super-rich titans that it’s going to amount to a glorified Southwest Airlines seat? There’s not a lot of feedback on that quite yet, but I think their answers are going to go something like this:
“just give me a badass, ultra-cool low-profile chair. And oh by the way, it needs to be super comfy for 12-hours.”
And that my friends, leads me back to the coach seat comparison. I think we all know damn well that if the industry can certify a 3-inch-wide coach class seat, we can do the same for our billionaire friends in their private jets. There are plenty of issues that stand in the way of these Eames chairs at altitude – but getting a “thinner” certified seat platform isn’t one of them.
But of course, there are other pesky little issues like, “where do we put all the electro servo motors and inflatable lumbars?” Oh, and the comfortable from NY to Tokyo thing.
These are the real challenges!
Learning From Other Industries
The business aviation industry has finally begun to look beyond its own borders for inspiration, and the results show in the best contemporary interiors. From automotive design, aviation has adopted the principle of creating driver-focused or, in this case, passenger-focused environments where every control, surface, and detail is positioned with ergonomic precision. The use of ambient lighting, pioneered in high-end automobiles, is now becoming standard in business jets, with systems that can simulate natural light cycles to reduce jet lag.
From yacht design, aviation has borrowed a more fluid approach to space planning and a willingness to use unexpected materials. The best yacht interiors create a sense of expansiveness through clever use of sight lines, reflective surfaces, and the careful placement of transparent and translucent elements. These same principles are now being applied to aircraft cabins, making them feel larger and more open despite their physical constraints.
From residential design, aviation has embraced the concept of bringing the outside in, using natural materials, organic textures, and biophilic design principles to create more calming, restorative environments. There is also a growing emphasis on customization and personalization, treating each aircraft interior as a unique project rather than selecting from a menu of predetermined options.
T H E C E N T E R S
Another first for JCF Magazine. THE CENTERS is a brand new permanent resource with its own dedicated page. A comprehensive listing of the top completion centers - worldwide - plus additional independent completion management resources to help owner / opearators and private flight departments make iformed decisons.
Image courtesy VIP Completions
From literally the very beginnings of luxury flight, more than fifty years ago, right up to current day, if you find yourself in First Class or a VIP / head of State aircraft, you were (and are) going to find a fat, cushy, super-thick seat waiting on you. For all those decades, those big-ass aircraft chairs have remained THE marker for airborne comfort and status for VIP travel.
That is to say, right up until now. We're going "thin". I know what you're thinking...."you mean like Southwest airlines thin? Like COACH class thin?" Well kinda, but I think the owners and designers that are leading the charge prefer to liken it to the Van Der Rohe Barcelona chair -
or maybe the Eames chair in their study at home.
But, however you want to quantify it, it's happening! For the first time in history, owners of VIP jets want thin. They want cool. They want "the look" babee!
But rest assured that if the new trend sticks around, and I certainly believe it will, then Ms. Agnes Guiu’s HIPSTER 01 chair, and other similar designs, will absolutely become a reality.
We’ll keep you updated on this one as more becomes available.
In the meantime, think thin!
Spirits of a different kind - Where do they come from, who savors them? Is there an art to creating these fine spirits and the accoutrements that go with them? There is an answer, of course, and for many gentlemen jet owners, it is they who act as its airborne aficionados.
Whiskey, and especially Bourbon, is, for whatever reason, particularly good when enjoyed at altitude. It's a "thing", something that most men (at least those who consume alcohol) understand and have a refined appreciation of - not just for that marvelous taste that crosses the palate, but for all the time-honored pomp and circumstance that goes with it.
Admittedly, I am not a big whiskey drinker. More of a Mango Martini kind of gal myself. I was however, intrigued to learn about this unfamiliar world of Luxury Spirits when I came across a brand whose origin and history felt deeper than the Amazon forest.
Looking at the origin of the Spirits, starting with Whiskey, we find its first roots in Scotland and Ireland. Without going into much detail about the conflicting origins of this Spirit itself, it is fascinating to unravel the mystery of its production from different regions in the world.
Whiskey is predominantly made from fermented grain in Scotland and produced from Barley and Rye, and aged in wooden casks, while Kentucky Bourbon, as it is known in America, is primarily produced from Corn and aged in charred white oak casks. The change in the process of distilling was due to the abundance of corn in Kentucky, which led the Scot-Irish settlers
to adapt their distilling process to the region.
Small Batch Whiskeys At Altitude
H E R I T A G E S P I R I T S W I T H A N A I R B O R N E L I F E S T Y L E
Acro Aircraft Seating's beautifully designed coach class seats are a good example of today's airlines trying to squeeze every passenger mile out of their aircraft. But it's also an entirely appropriate example of how seats as thin as a bar of soap still manage to pass the 16 G forward crash certification requirements.
If the Van Der Rohe chair pictured above is iconic, then the Eames chair is in the stratosphere. Pretty much every designer I know has one of these in their living room or studio. They exude cool and they are inarguably the most comfortable lounger in history.
There's NO man who doesn't want one of these on their airplane! Unfortunately, there is also NO regulatory agency that's going to let that happen. But, since certified aircraft chair frames are relatively thin to begin with, we could be getting close in the not-too-distant future.
There's a moment — and if you've experienced it, you know exactly what we're talking about — when first class stops feeling like an indulgence and starts feeling like a negotiation.
Maybe it's the third time this month you've sat in the first-class lounge sipping orange juice with 80 other travelers, only to find your flight has again been delayed for mechanical. Or maybe it's when the sommelier — bless his heart — pours you a Burgundy that tastes suspiciously like it came from a gas station in Lyon.
These are the signs. Not crises, exactly. Just gentle nudges from the universe, suggesting that your relationship with commercial aviation may have run its natural course.
The switch to private isn't about ego (well, not entirely). It's about the profound realization that your time has an actual dollar value — one that, when calculated honestly, makes the math rather compelling. No more arriving two hours early. No more removing your shoes for people who remain unconvinced you're not a threat. No more middle-seat neighbors who believe armrests are a communist concept.
Flying private means departing when you're ready, landing where it's convenient, and conducting a conference call at full volume without a single passive-aggressive glance from row 3B.
The tell-tale tipping point? When you start calculating the cost of your time sitting in terminal C versus the upgrade cost to a charter — and the charter wins comfortably.
First class gave us lie-flat beds and warm nuts. We'll always love it for that. But once the slippers start feeling a little tight, darling, it might just be time to move on.
The runway awaits.
Richard Roseman -
Publisher / Editor
E D I T O R I A L B E G I N S H E R E
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When To Graduate?
Agnes Giui is a cutting edge designer based in Paris. Literally everything she does is ultra modern and minimalist in terms of aesthetice. Clean, simple lines and efficiency of design are what immediately distinguishes her work. The HIPSTER seat is no different. Unfortunately it's only a concept at the moment - but it is a direct reflection of where things are headed.
It's no surprise that one of the first stabs at these new lower profile VIP chairs, comes from the Agnes Giui Studio. When it comes to minimal design principals, she is a purist, never straying from from her inate love and respect of "clean & simple" Will the HIPSTER 001 become an iconic aircraft chair for the ages. Only the future will tell. It all comes down to the chair manufacturers and which one will step up with the resources and lengthy certification commitment to make it happen.
When you open the door to the Lou Hansell Bespoke studio, the possibilities begin. Our artisans and designers have selected a palette of exquisite materials, with 51 shades of ltalian leathers, five metal and inner trim pairings, and personalization options. Driven by their boundless creativity, they combine their talents and craftsmanship to create pieces you’ll cherish forever.
S H O W C A S I N G T H E W O R L D ' S T O P D E S I G N E R S - A T T H E T O P OF T H E I R G A M E
Image courtesy of Sotto Studios
M A R C H F E A T U R E D D E S I G N E R
P A V I N A C a l l i e s - P a p é
Photo: Leopold Fiala -leopoldfiala.com
The March 2026 Installment of Jetzign is Proud to Feature
P A V I N A C A L L I E S - P A P E
Callies Design - Hamburg
JETZIGN is a ongoing feature in each issue of JCF Magazine,
as well as a permanent section. The purpose of Jetzign is to display the talents, techinical skills and completion oversight expertise of the world's most recognized designers (both the independents and those who preside over the design departments within major centers). Within each Jetzign feature article, we focus on the work of a specific designer and illustrate the body of their work via video animation, still images and narratives from the designer.
D E S I G N I N G W I T H
R E S P O N S I B I L I T Y
Aviation is one of the few environments where design carries visible responsibility.
Every line must respect engineering.
Every material must withstand pressure, fluctuation and time.
Every detail must support both safety and experience.
For Pavina Callies-Papé, this discipline does not restrict creativity — it defines it.
Raised between cultures and shaped by an international design education, Pavina
developed an early awareness of structure and sensibility coexisting within the same
space. After graduating from HEAD – Geneva, she entered the world of aviation interiors,
where aesthetics and accountability operate side by side.
Through Callies Design, she works within a framework grounded in architectural rigor.
Founded by architect Tim Callies, the studio was built on systems thinking, structural
clarity and long-term responsibility. This foundation continues to guide its aviation
projects. Within this structure, complementary perspectives allow each interior to evolve
with precision and restraint.
Alongside Callies Design, Aviation Décor emerged as an extension of this mindset. Conceived as a platform dedicated to inflight gestures and material culture, it explores how subtle elements — a textile, an object, a ritual — shape life above the clouds. It is not an aesthetic departure, but a continuation of the same principle: design should support experience with quiet coherence.
Across all projects, one constant remains. Aviation demands consistency over spectacle, endurance over trend. In this context, responsibility becomes more than a constraint; it becomes a design language.
For Pavina Callies-Papé, a private jet represents freeform living — structured by discipline, elevated by intention.
And that is luxury.
- P A V I N A C A L L I E S - P A P É
“For me, a private jet is freeform —
and that is luxury.”
Concept: Camber Aviation Management. Design: Callies Design
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The aircraft cabin is neither domestic nor purely technical. It is a space in motion, where life unfolds between destinations. Passengers rest, negotiate, reflect. Crew members operate with focus and care. Designing for this environment requires understanding not only spatial composition, but human rhythm.
Rather than treating materials as decorative finishes, Pavina approaches them as active components of the onboard experience. Textiles absorb sound and shape comfort. Surfaces regulate light and tactility. Colour calibrates atmosphere. Each element participates in a larger ecosystem where harmony supports performance.
In private aviation, client vision often arrives layered with aspiration and identity.
Translating this into an executable design demands clarity. Pavina’s role frequently lies in bridging ambition and feasibility, guiding decisions toward solutions that remain refined, coherent and technically sound. Discipline becomes a form of respect — for the client, for the crew, and for the aircraft itself.
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Photo: Leopold Fiala -leopoldfiala.com
“In aviation,
responsibility is the
first design decision.”
P A V I N A. C A L L I E S P A P É
“A cabin is a space in motion, shaped for real life.”
Interior Design & Rendering : Callies Design
Aviation Interior Design
Callies Design is an independent design studio rooted in architectural
clarity and responsibility, working at the intersection of aviation, interiors and material culture.
Founded by architect Tim Callies, the studio developed a strong structural and systems-based approach to design, shaped by longterm thinking and technical rigor. Callies Design is represented by Pavina Callies-Papé, who leads the studio’s aviation focused work and carries its design language forward.
Pavina’s practice is shaped by highly constrained environments such as private aviation, where design decisions must respond simultaneously to engineering requirements, operational realities and human experience. Her work focuses on materials, textiles, colour and surfaces as active elements that support comfort, perception and use, rather than visual statements.
Within Callies Design, architecture and sensibility operate in dialogue. Structure provides the framework; material and gesture bring balance and meaning. This approach results in interiors that feel calm, coherent and enduring, where every element earns its place.
Callies Design collaborates closely with clients and industry partners, translating personal visions into technically sound, buildable solutions. The studio’s work is guided by discretion, precision and a commitment to responsibility as a core design value.
Based in Hamburg, Callies Design operates internationally, with a
strong focus on bespoke aviation interiors.
Pavina Callies-Papé and Tim Callies co-conduct their projects from their Hamburg studio. As individuals, both brought long experience from their respective independent careers into the partnership.
Callies Design represents a collective experience and project tenure not often seen in aviation design. With unique, naturally imbued strengths from both, the studio offers a unique concentration of talents and aviation-specific expertise.
Interior Design: Callies Design
Photo: Helmut Harringer - jetpano.net Courtesy of FAI Aviation Group
Photo: Leopold Fiala -leopoldfiala.com
T H E B O A T O F A L L B O A T S
“Constraints give design its precision.”
- P A V I N A. C A L L I E S P A P É
Interior Design & Rendering : Callies Design
Why Your Mega-Yacht Is Still Just a Boat.
Ever noticed how billionaires casually refer to their 100 metre superyacht as "the boat"? It's not modesty and it ain't humble-bragging—it's maritime tradition. In the nautical world, everything floats its way into the "boat" category, from dinghies to floating palaces with helipads. A yacht is a boat. A clipper is a boat. That nuclear submarine? Technically, a boat.
But here's the funny thing: the reverse never happens. Nobody pulls up to the marina in a 12-foot Boston Whaler and announces, "Check out my yacht!" The hierarchy is real.
And speaking of hierarchy, let's talk about the unmitigated king of cool when it comes to BOAT boats. The RIVA. Poll a thousand men from 15 to 80, from every country in the world and ask them the one boat they'd kill to own. The answer you'll get back, every time:
It's the boat no man doesn't dream of (or already own) - and no woman doesn't want to be swept away in. These hand-crafted Italian mahogany boats are what George Clooney would have parked out front of his Lake Cuomo villa, if he were into boats. Oh, hang on . . . he has one! And cool begets cool, right? Is it true that Sophia Loren owned one? Damn straight, along with Brigitte Bardot, Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Peter Sellers, Anita Ekberg, Jackie Stewart, Jean-Paul Belmondo, and Aristoteles Onassis, just to drop a few.
This issue, YachtSpace goes BOAT.
Leather has been a fixture of private aviation interiors for decades, valued for its tactile quality, durability, and the sense of comfort it communicates. Within the Versalles collection, leather is treated with the faceted geometry to add visual depth while retaining its softness and flexibility — properties that make it well-suited to curved and compound surfaces found throughout aircraft cabins. Carbon fiber, by contrast, brings a distinctly contemporary and technical character. Its structural lightness makes it a practical choice in aviation applications, and its visual identity — the woven pattern and sheen that have become associated with high-performance engineering — gives it a different kind of authority within an interior. Wood introduces warmth and natural variation that neither leather nor carbon fiber can replicate. Each piece carries its own grain pattern, providing an organic quality that contrasts with the precision of the engineered surfaces around it. Technical textiles complete the material range, offering versatility and performance characteristics suited to high-contact areas where durability is as important as appearance.
The combination of these materials is guided by a coherent design logic rather than by individual material selection alone. The faceted surface treatment provides a common visual language across all four categories, allowing diverse materials to coexist within a single interior without appearing disconnected. A carbon fiber panel and a leather-wrapped surface, for example, share enough geometric continuity to read as part of the same design system even as their material characters remain distinct.
The development process behind Versalles moves through several stages before any component reaches an aircraft. The design begins as a geometric study, where the proportions and transitions of the faceted surface are analyzed in relation to how they will behave under different lighting conditions. This analytical phase informs decisions about the depth and frequency of the facets — too shallow and the light interaction is negligible; too pronounced and the surface begins to feel textured in a way that may conflict with the broader interior aesthetic. Once the geometry is resolved, materials are selected and prepared according to standards that must satisfy both aviation regulatory requirements and the performance demands of a cabin environment, where temperature fluctuation, humidity, vibration, and regular use all place stress on interior components over time. Manufacturing then translates the approved design into physical components with precision sufficient to preserve the geometric intent at full scale. Finally, installation requires careful attention to how individual components meet and transition, since the coherence of the overall effect depends on surface continuity across panel joints and material boundaries.
Courage.
113 M "REVIVAL" by designer Issac Burroughs
A RIVA is way more than a boat. It's part and parcel of our Italian laid dreams. Real or imagined, it glides through sapphire waters like a whispered promise . . . of the past, the present and all points in between. The Riva is hand-crafted boat building the way it's been done for 120 years.
As a boy, I used to dream of taking my girlfriend on a moonlit glide across Shadow Mountain Lake (Colorado) in a 21-foot ChrisCraft runabout. Often referred to as the Italian Chris-Craft, the Riva boasts Italian craftsmanship, but otherwise conjures the same dreams. My stolen moment beneath the Colorado moon never happened. But, I was lucky enough to ride in one of Riva's 38-foot RivaMares in Caan back in 2001. The engine's gurgle instantly took me back to my boyhood. And even though my wife wasn't my wife yet, I have vowed to take her to Lake Cuomo and spend
whatever it costs, to manifest my moonlit dream.
My dream girl in my dream boat.
Reymond-Langton Design
Established in 2001 by the talented design duo of Pascale Reymond and Andrew Langton, both of whom already had over a decade’s experience in the superyacht industry, we are committed to creating designs that are as beautiful as they are functional whilst, at the same time, ensuring our clients’ expectations are not only met but exceeded, with projects being delivered on time and on budget. I
n 2002, Jason Macaree joined the team as a director. Coming from different creative backgrounds – Pascale gained a Master’s degree in Art History from La Sorbonne, Paris before moving to London to study Interior Design while Andrew and Jason graduated with a BA (Hons) in Transport Design – the team’s individual blend of skills and professional expertise are complementary, resulting in a remarkable and much sought after design team delivering unquestionable quality with superb attention to detail
The RIVA Super AquaMarina - CIRCA 1969
The Riva story is all about the unique, inimitable savoir-faire that is the secret of its winning beauty and style today and has always been from the very beginning. It was 1842, and on Lake Iseo, a sudden storm had devastated the fishing fleet. Yet a young shipwright was working wonders, restoring many of the vessels to full seagoing health and earning the local people’s respect and admiration in the process. And so the Riva legend was born and, with it, that of Pietro Riva, who took his destiny in his hands the moment he arrived in the little town of Sarnico. Here, he opened the yard where he would launch the first Riva creations, craft of outstanding personality and class, even then.
For more information on Riva Boats, Yachts & Superyachts, vist:
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R I V A - I T A L I A N H A N D C R A F T E D W O O D E N B O A T S
Beyond the Aesthetics: Why the Best Cabins Are Designed for Living, Not Just Looking.
The philosophy underlying Versalles sits within a broader trend that has been reshaping luxury interiors across sectors, including aviation, automotive, and high-end residential design. Contemporary luxury, particularly at the level of private aviation clientele, has moved away from visual excess and toward what is increasingly described as restrained or experiential luxury — environments distinguished by material quality, spatial proportion, and sensory coherence rather than by decorative intensity. In this context, how a surface behaves under light, how it feels to the touch, and how it contributes to the perceived atmosphere of a space carry more weight than any individual decorative element.
This shift places greater demands on designers and manufacturers, because restrained interiors offer fewer places to hide. When an interior is defined by surface quality and material precision rather than by layered decoration, the standard of execution must be correspondingly higher. A poorly resolved joint, an inconsistency in surface finish, or a material that performs well visually but falls short tactilely will be more apparent in a minimal interior than in a more decorated one.
Whether Versalles Textures represents a meaningful advance in aviation interior design or a well-executed iteration on existing approaches will ultimately depend on how the collection performs in completed installations and how it is received by the designers and clients who commission private aircraft interiors. But the framework it proposes — surfaces engineered for their sensory behavior rather than their decorative value alone — reflects a direction the industry appears to be taking seriously, and one that is likely to continue shaping how private aviation interiors are conceived and specified in the years ahead.
The best completion managers and designers already think well beyond aesthetics, weaving engineering, certification, daily usability, and long-term maintenance into their process.
Thomas Chatfield - Executive Contributor &
CEO - Camber Aviation Management
O
kay, so there's not much arguing that the pinnacle of ownership in this world is a large-cabin, airline-size private jet, outfitted to your precise specifications. Lounges, media spaces, bedrooms, showers, play rooms for the kids. Only a tiny fraction of people in the world will ever experience this kind of travel - let alone own one. But here's the thing: With ownership of anything comes issues. The monitor won't display my Xbox Game Pass. The espresso machine is sputtering. The shower is not hot. Does it happen often? No, fortunately, it's not an altogether common occurance. But just because it doesn't happen often, doesn't mean it's any less aggravating when you're at 40,000 feet, with a cabin full of kids and guests.
In this installment of Airborne Cafè, Thomas Chatfield takes us through the imperative of holistic cabin design - and how VIP airplanes can learn a thing or two from the hospitality industry.
- Thomas Chatfield
This is the 12th installment of Airborne Cafe. We are proud to embark on this ongoing series of thoughts, extollings, and stories from one of the premier figures in our industry. In each issue, Thomas Chatfield will offer us thought-provoking articles like the one above - each of them relevant and insightful from the perspective of private aviation. Simply hit the link at right to finish the article, and while you're there, learn more about Camber Aviation Management and the importance of their work
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and universal world-class expertise.
Explore the options of jet ownership. Learn more.
The Continental GT, Flying Spur and Bentayga are the very definition of a modern Bentley line-up, all built with the words of the founder, W.O Bentley ringing in the air: “I want to build a fast car, a good car, the best car in its class.”
