The richest man in India, Mukesh Ambani, recently added a new aircraft to his extensive private jet fleet. Ambani took delivery of the country’s first Boeing Business Jet (BBJ) 737 MAX 9. This aircraft recently went through costly cabin customizations and other upgrades that have valued the aircraft at approximately Rs 1,000 crore ($120 million). Officially, this business jet will be added to the fleet of Reliance Industries, of which Ambani is the managing director and chairman of.
About the new Ambani private jet
The new aircraft that Ambani is adding to the Reliance Industries fleet is the BBJ 737 MAX 9. This is a custom-configured aircraft that is based on the popular Boeing 737 MAX series. These types of aircraft are typically manufactured together on the same assembly line. However, the BBJ variant will typically then be transported elsewhere for significant modifications.
Photo: Mehdi Photos | Shutterstock
In this case, Ambani’s new BBJ 737 MAX 9 traveled to Basil EuroAirport (BSL) in Basel, Switzerland, where it received extensive interior modifications. According to The Times of India, the aircraft first arrived at the Swiss facility on April 13, 2023. Since then, the aircraft has been through a modification program and a flight test program to ensure the safety of the upgrades. Some of these flight tests occurred over Switzerland and even included a stop at London Luton Airport (LTN).
According to The Times of India, Ambani’s new business jet, which has a manufacturer serial number (MSN) of 8401, arrived in Delhi, India, on August 27th, 2024. Additionally, it was also reported that the aircraft is idle near Delhi Airport (DEL) as it awaits its next flight to Mumbai, where the headquarters of Reliance Industries is. This is also most likely where the aircraft will be based.
Photo: Robert Buchel | Shutterstock
This BBJ 737 MAX 9 is the latest aircraft to join the Reliance Industries fleet. Besides this converted narrowbody airliner, Reliance Industries also operates an Airbus Corporate Jet (ACJ) A319, two Bombardier Global 5000s, two Dassault Falcon 900s, one Bombardier Global 6000, and an Embraer ERJ-135. The company also operates several Sikorsky S-76 helicopters.
About the BBJ 737 MAX 9
The BBJ 737 MAX series is the primary product that is offered by Boeing as a business jet. This series was launched in April 2014, and the deliveries began in October 2018. The company offers three different variants in this series, which include the following aircraft:
- BBJ MAX 7
- BBJ MAX 8
- BBJ MAX 9
The BBJ MAX 9 is the largest of the series of aircraft, and it is the same size as the commercial variant, the Boeing 737 MAX 9. The aircraft has slowly become a popular choice for executives and businesses, specifically due to the aircraft’s low operating costs when compared to purpose-built business jets. Overall, the BBJ MAX 9 has the following performance specifications:
|
Length |
138 feet two inches |
|---|---|
|
Height |
40 feet four inches |
|
Wingspan |
117 feet ten inches |
|
Maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) |
194,700 pounds |
|
Range |
6,355 nautical miles (7,313 miles) |
|
Cruise speed |
453 knots (521 miles per hour) |
|
Service ceiling |
41,000 feet |