Lankan businessman seeks buyer for palatial Boeing 747
Mr. Benedict Sirimanne in front the Boeing 767-200ER VIP now owned by rapper Drake.
One of the few surviving Boeing 747 VIP palatial aircraft that generated interest from the likes of John Travolta and placed on the market by a Sri Lankan businessman in the US, is now likely to be picked up by a tobacco billionaire.
Entertaining offers in the range of US$6-9 million the aircraft that is like a palace with an owner’s master bedroom and shower; a lounge and conference room with gold plating and inlays in the wooden tables, has created interest in a Canadian tobacco billionaire who is currently negotiating to purchase it. The aircraft is currently owned by CSDS Aircraft Sales and Leasing Inc, President Benedict Sirimanne, a Sri Lankan businessman in the US.
Responding to queries from the US via an email interview, Mr. Benedict explained that this type of aircraft on average will cost around $1200 per hour in maintenance costs alone and $35, 000 per month for upkeep. The annual hangar, insurance, crew and other costs are expected to exceed $1 million, he stated.
The aircraft once generated interest from singer/actor John Travolta who sent his technical representative to carry out an inspection of the aircraft but was unable to reach a deal.
Mr. Sirimanne observed that there is a lot of interest in this type of aircraft but only a few could afford to fly it and even fewer need this size of an aircraft as personal transport.
Commenting on operating costs involved, he noted that a person who buys this aircraft for cash will have to spend around $18, 000 per hour to operate it. “But I am confident this aircraft will continue to operate with the right owner, for many more years to come,” he said.
In fact CSDS had purchased a Boeing 767-200ER VIP from a Saudi royal family member and sold it to the rapper musician Drake.
His company currently owns 12 commercial aircraft, including several Boeing 737-400s that they bought from Japan Airlines’ local carrier, JTA, four Boeing 757s from Ethiopian Airlines and four Airbus 340 aircraft from Turkish Airlines. Since 2003 CSDS has bought and sold over 150 aircraft both commercial and business jets.
This palatial aircraft is currently entertaining offers between $6-9 million and negotiations are underway with the interested buyer, Mr. Sirimanne said.
He bought the aircraft whose previous owner was an elder Emir of Qatar since it was converted to VIP at a cost of over $70 million in 1995 and bought for the value of its engine and parts.
Once the Emir passed away this aircraft that they were trying to sell for £15 million and another new aircraft worth $400 million sat in a hangar in Bournemouth, UK for two years.
Mr. Sirimanne noted that following an evaluation he had requested for a price that was one-third of what they were asking for and following a series of negotiations he purchased it. It came along with a package of spare parts and two engines.
“We specialise in buying such fleets of aircraft. Once in a while we would get an opportunity for a VIP aircraft such as this,” he said.
As an Aviation enthusiast, this 747SP is a very important aircraft to Mr. Sirimanne personally since it’s one of 10 surviving 747 VIP’s in the world. Due to high fuel consumption (approximately 3200 gallons per hour), not a lot of people in the world can afford to fly this aircraft. Kanye West and Kim Kardashian rented a similar 747SP VIP from the Venetian Casino in Las Vegas recently, for a day and made big a social media splash, he noted.