Steven Spielberg, a visionary filmmaker and the most commercially successful Hollywood director, has gained a reputation for his luxurious taste for jet travel. The renowned filmmaker travels in style aboard either of his two long-haul business jets, a Gulfstream G650 and a Boeing 737 BBJ. Arguably two of the best luxury corporate jets, these engineering marvels reflect his status, stature, and discerning taste for performance and comfort.
With its unmatched range of over 6,200 nautical miles, executive comfort, and 541 MPH travel speeds, the Boeing 737 BBJ is a top-tier business jet. Only the Gulfstream G650, with its 6,400 nm range at Mach 0.90 and 7,000 nm at Mach 0.85, can rival its stature. At these speeds, the Gulfstream G650 holds the record for the fastest flight in business jet aviation history.
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Spielberg’s Boeing 737
Spielberg’s Boeing 737 is a BBJ (Boeing Business Jet), not to be confused with the commercial passenger airliner. This high-echelon jet is a customized version of the iconic commercial aircraft designed to serve private and corporate travelers with unparalleled cabin space and comfort. Its spacious cabin allows almost every configuration imaginable, making it the dream jet for any interior designer and luxury jet enthusiast.
Photo: RoyalJet
Spielberg has had this paragon of luxury since 2019. In 2024, the jet took 47 flights, bringing its aggregate flight time to 126 hours. In the same period, its fuel consumption was 102,583 gallons, which is $615,501 in monetary value. Its total carbon emission in tonnes has been 982, which is average for such a jet.
According to the FAA’s documents, Spielberg’s Boeing 737, serial number 30718, ICAO aae2cf, has AEJ SERVICES LLC registered as its registered owner and Steven Spielberg as the operator. So what makes the Boeing 737 BBJ such an unattractive business jet for the who’s, who in the world? Follow its key specifications as recorded here.
Boeing 737 key specifications
Specifications Details Production year 1998 to 2021 Capacity 8 to 63 passengers, depending on configuration Length 116 ft MAX 7, 129 ft MAX 8, and 132 ft MAX 9 Engine 2 x CFMI CFM56-7B Maximum speed 541 mph Maximum range 6,600 nm with eight passengers
Boeing 737 design and features
As a narrowbody class jet, the 737 BBJ offers private jet travelers a beautiful design with a spacious cabin configured into four main cabin areas. These include a boardroom for corporate meetings, a business office, a VIP bedroom, a lounge, and two exquisite restrooms with showers. While commercial 737 airliners carry up to 149 passengers, BBJs only carry between 8 and 63 passengers, usually depending on how luxurious the configuration is.
In terms of range, the 737 is a medium-to-long-range jet, with a maximum range of 6,600 nm or 7,600 miles when carrying eight passengers onboard. This paragon of luxurious air travel is not a dwarf either when it comes to speed, with maximum speeds of 541 mph. While not as fast as, say maybe, the Gulfstream G650, this is still considerably high for a transcontinental jet.
Like other BBJs, Spielberg’s 737 runs on 2 x CFMI CFM56-7B engines. Boeing’s 737 BBJ jets are considerably more expensive because their listing price doesn’t include the interior.
“However, with the right combination of comfort, performance, and best-in-class operating economics, the BBJ family offers VIP customers all the features they are looking for in a business jet,” said Joe Benson , BBJ president.
Gulfstream G650
Spielberg’s first choice for high-end air travel is the Gulfstream G650. Widely known for its advanced technology and sleek design, this ultra-long-range jet is synonymous with luxury, speed, and technological advancement. Although Spielberg has had his G650 jet since 2019, its manufacturing concluded in 2015.
Photo: Shutterstock | Simple Flying
As of 2024, Spielberg’s G650 has taken 69 flights with a flight time of 170 hours. In that time, the plane consumed 85,571 gallons of fuel, totaling about $513,429. However, recent news reports have seen criticism over its carbon emissions, amounting to 819 tonnes of CO2 in 2024 operations alone.
The FAA files register Golf Group Enterprises LLC as the owner of the Gulfstream G650, serial number 6163, ICAO ac701e, and Spielberg as the plane’s operator. The jet supersedes most others with its 7,000 nautical mile range. This exemplary feature has made it arguably the best business jet for intercontinental and transcontinental flights.
G650 key specifications
Specifications Details Production year 2005 to 2014 Capacity 19 passengers Length 99 ft 9 in (30.40 m) Wingspan 99 ft 7 in (30.35 m) Height 25 ft 8 in (7.82 m) Maximum speed Mach 0.925 or 611 mph Cruise Speed Mach 0.85 to 0.90, or 561–594 mph Range 7,000 nm or 8,100 miles
G650 design and features
The G650 has applied its unparalleled design quality and advanced avionics to remain at the helm of luxurious, high-performance jet travel. The jet offers a spacious cabin that seats up to 19 passengers in the VVIP configuration, and it offers other configuration options, like sleeping and working. Its high-end single seats and divan guarantee passenger productivity and comfort during long-haul flights and can be transformed into beds for added comfort.
Photo: Gulfstream Aerospace | Simple Flying
On the other hand, its luxurious bar, a full kitchen, and numerous entertainment features, including wireless internet and satellite telephone, have made the jet as exquisite as possible. Besides its exquisite design, the G650 maintains state-of-the-art avionics, such as fully fly-by-wire aircraft controls. These guarantee a smoother and more comfortable flight. It also comes preinstalled with the award-winning system for Predictive Landing Performance, which helps avoid runway overruns.
According to the senior vice president of programs, Dan Nale , “Gulfstream sets the standard in business aviation for bringing advanced safety technologies like EVS to market.”
The G650’s two Rolls-Royce BR725 engines produce 17,000 lbs of thrust each, allowing it to land at small airports with medium runways and avoid the hustle of the larger, much busier airports. With the ability to reach Mach 0.90, this aircraft combines business-class comfort with world-class performance. In fact, the aircraft holds many aviation records, including the farthest and fastest flight in purpose-built jet aviation history.
Aviation heritage and cutting-edge excellence
The need for private aviation has surged in recent years due to increased convenience and a desire for privacy. Spielberg’s use of the G650 and the Boeing 737 highlights this growing trend where celebrities, tech moguls, and business elites opt for top-tier jets for their long-range capabilities and luxurious, speed, and efficient air travel.