Summary

  • The BBJ range is 6,141 nautical miles; costs range from $41-71 million.
  • Operational costs are an average $5,091,831 for 450 flying hours annually.
  • The first BBJ series was phased out, and Boeing now offers BBJ 737 MAX and BBJ787.

The Boeing Business Jet (BBJ) is an upgraded version of the commercial jet airliner. It was built for the discerning private jet owner, heads of state/government, and the corporate jet market. Its competition was the Bombardier Global Express, the Gulfstream G550, and the Embraer Lineage. Soon after, Airbus released its Airbus Corporate Jet (ACJ). But which Boeing Business Jet is the cheapest? Let’s take a look in more detail.

How the BBJ came about

In the late 1980s, Boeing introduced the Boeing 77-33 jet, a business jet version of the 737-300, but the project was short-lived. Once Boeing released the Next Generation Series 737, they produced the first Boeing Business Jet (BBJ). It was named the BBJ1, based on the 737-700 but with extra features. The initial cost of the aircraft was $36 million unfurnished, making it a relatively affordable aircraft compared to other business jets.

N349BA@FRA 09.07.2010 Original BBJ coming into land

The stronger wings and landing gear were taken from the 737-800, and extra fuel tanks were added; between three and ten could be installed. This increased the range of the BBJ compared to the original 737-700 by a considerable amount to 6,141 nautical miles. This approximates to 14 hours in the air. The aircraft seats 19 passengers and can fly at 486 knots.

The aircraft is powered by CFM56-7B27 engines that produce 27,300 pounds of thrust. The aircraft has a maximum take-off weight of 17,000 pounds and climbs to a maximum altitude of 37,000 feet. It has 807 square feet of floor space, enabling a large galley, three lavatories (one with a shower, if requested), state rooms or conference rooms, private suites, lounges, and dining rooms. The first BBJ came off the assembly line on August 11, 1998, and flew in September 1998.

The range of the BBJ could allow for direct flights between:

  • New York and Moscow
  • New York and São Paulo
  • Vancouver and Paris
  • Vancouver and Shanghai
N371BC_Boeing_737_BBJ.2_(7421888166)

Costs of the aircraft

Considering that the original asking price was $36 million, today, you can pay between $41 and $71 million for the pre-owned aircraft. The average price of a BBJ today is $59 million. To refurbish the aircraft, you can expect costs of $2 million to $5 million. If equipped, a new off-the-assembly-line comparable BBJ MAX7 would cost around $101.5 million. However, at the opposite end of the scale, a Boeing 747-8 BBJ would set you back $367 million.

Operating costs

Based on 450 hours flown in a year and a six-dollar fuel cost per gallon, the Boeing BBJ has total variable costs of $3,790,350.00. This would include fuel, landing fees, and unplanned maintenance, but it would depend on how often and how far the aircraft is flown. The fixed costs are $1,301,481.00 per year and include things like insurance, planned maintenance, hangar space, crew salaries and training, and management fees.

Flying 450 Hours per Year

  • Annual Owner Hours: 450
  • Annual Charter Hours: 0
  • Fuel Cost: $6.00
  • Total Fixed Cost: $1,301,481.00
  • Total Variable Cost: $3,790,350.00
  • Annual Budget: $5,091,831.00
  • Total Hourly Cost: $11,315.18

Flying 450 Hours per Year + 200 Charter Hours

  • Annual Owner Hours: 450
  • Annual Charter Hours: 200
  • Fuel Cost: $6.00
  • Total Fixed Cost: $1,464,881.00
  • Total Variable Cost: $3,790,350.00
  • Annual Budget: $5,255,231.00
  • Total Hourly Cost: $11,678.29
Boeing 737 BBJ Fling above Las Vegas

New version

On October 11, 1999, the new BBJ2 was introduced, and it was based on the 737-800. It was longer than the BBJ1, with a quarter more cabin space and double the baggage space. In return for the increased space and more extended cabin, the range of the aircraft was reduced to 5,500 nautical miles. Auxiliary fuel tanks were put into the cargo hold and inside the winglets. It was first delivered on February 28, 2001.

Upgraded model

Boeing presented another upgrade to the BBJ. The BBJ3 was introduced in November 2005 and was based on the 737-900ER. They started work on the first aircraft in May 2008 and completed it in August 2008. It was a more extended version of the BBJ2 with 89% more baggage space and 35% more cabin space. It entered service in 2009, and seven of the aircraft were delivered. It had a range of 4790 nautical miles and a cruise speed of 473 knots.

A6-RJX_B737(BBJ)_Royal_Jet_VKO_UUWW_(33244415940)

Aircraft specifications

Specification

Value

Cabin Volume

5,396 cu ft

Cabin Height

7 ft

Cabin Width

12 ft

Cabin Length

79 ft

Range

6,141 NM

Maximum Cruise Speed

486 knts

Maximum Take-Off Weight

171,000 lb

Payload with Maximum Fuel

4,723 lb

Maximum Altitude

37,000 ft

Balanced Field Length

6,020 ft

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The original BBJ is no longer being produced, but after 20 years of being made:

  • BBJ1: 113 aircraft delivered
  • BBJ2: 23 aircraft delivered
  • BBJ3: 7 delivered
  • Total: 143 aircraft

Boeing initially forecast that they would produce 50 BBJs. In fact, they manufactured almost three times the amount. The first BBJs ceased production in 2019. Boeing delivered their last BBJ based on the Boeing 737NG in 2021. After the first BBJ, Boeing expanded to the BBJ 737 MAX, BBJ 777, BBJ 777X, BBJ 787, and the BBJ 747-8. Currently, Boeing only produces the BBJ 737 MAX and the BBJ787.

Related

What Is The Price Of A Boeing 747 Business Jet?

The listed price for a brand-new Boeing Business Jet (BBJ) 747-8 was $367 million.

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