Originally designed to carry 220 passengers, Asia's richest man, Mukesh Ambani, has taken delivery of a $150 million Boeing BBJ 737 Max 9 and converted it into his private jet

Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani, the richest person in Asia, has expanded his fleet of business jets with a new Boeing BBJ 737 Max 9, the first-of-its-kind to be delivered in India. The ultra-long-range business jet has a starting price of around $118, excluding cabin customization and other modifications, making it the most expensive private jet to be owned by an Indian business tycoon.

After completing its extensive modifications and all the necessary test flights, the aircraft made its way to Delhi, India, on August 27, where it was reregistered with the Indian Civil Aviation with a new code, VT-AVK. Previously, Ambani’s 737 Max was registered in San Marino with the code T7-LOTUS. The aircraft hasn’t been in service ever since it arrived in India. There’s no information on its future flights, but there are speculations that the jet will soon be moved to Mumbai where the entire Ambani family resides.

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A rendering of a Boeing 737 business jet.

The aircraft was brought to EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg (BSL) in Switzerland last year in April for its extensive cabin upgrades and interior modifications. There are no pictures of the completed cabin, but we expect it to be outfitted with the best available options. The Boeing 737 Max 9 is the largest member of the BBJ Max family with a cabin floor area of 1,120 sq ft.

The first Max 9 was delivered in 2021, and only a handful exist worldwide. There are plenty of interior options available on offer that can transform the aircraft into a flying villa. It can feature everything from a beautifully appointed master bedroom to an ensuite bathroom with a full-size rainfall shower to multiple communal spaces complete with plush seating and top-of-the-line equipment.

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On the outside, Ambani’s new jet features a special livery that combines white with navy blue and gold. The logo of the Indian billionaire’s conglomerate, Reliance Industries, appears on the tail fin. Before arriving in India, the aircraft underwent a series of test flights, traveling between Basel, Geneva, and London to ensure all the upgrades were in perfect working condition.

While Ambani’s jet is the first BBJ 737 Max jet to be delivered in India, the country is soon going to get another one. Indian billionaire Gautam Adani’s Boeing 737 Max 8 is currently being completed and will soon be delivered.