The Sky's the Limit for Private Jet Interior Designer Aurora Saboir
Creating bespoke private jet interiors for the world's wealthiest individuals represents just another day at the office for Aurora Saboir. The Austrian creative operates within the exclusive and demanding niche of curating luxurious airborne spaces, transforming aircraft cabins into personalised flying sanctuaries at 30,000 feet.
From Furniture to Flying Palaces
Saboir, aged 35, originally trained as an industrial design engineer and entered the aviation design industry almost by accident. While working in Mallorca, she received an invitation to tour a private jet. "The jet owner wanted some style advice and I went and visited the plane and it just immediately clicked," explains the designer, who had previously worked in furniture design. This serendipitous encounter launched her career in aviation luxury.
Today, Saboir runs her own company, Aurora Aero Design, which offers boutique services encompassing both cabin interiors and exterior paintwork for private aircraft. Her clientele primarily hails from the United States and the Middle East, ranging from solo owners to large families seeking planes tailored to their specific travel requirements and personal aesthetics.
The Multi-Million Euro Price Tag of Personalisation
The cost of transforming a private jet varies dramatically depending on multiple factors. "For off-market jets in the mid-size range, refurbishment can be somewhere between €1 million to €2.5 million," Saboir reveals. When working with brand new aircraft, the interior customisation typically accounts for approximately 30 percent of the total purchasing price.
"So if a new jet costs €80 million, then we are really around €15 million to €20 million for customisation, because these are ultra-customised planes," she elaborates. Larger aircraft command even higher budgets, with outfitting Boeing Business Jets – particularly popular with Middle Eastern clients – reaching "anywhere from €40 million to €50–€60 million, depending on how extra it needs to be in the end."
Bespoke Luxury in Confined Spaces
Despite the spatial limitations inherent to aircraft cabins, Saboir insists that comfort and opulence know few boundaries. "Maybe the only limit is the size of the plane, the geometry of it – but inside of that we can go pretty far," she asserts. Each project represents a completely bespoke affair, meticulously tailored to what matters most to individual clients.
For technology-focused customers, Saboir conducts extensive research into "the newest screens" and their potential integration. When sleep quality represents a priority, she implements "custom produced, fitted mattresses, full blackout options, advanced noise cancellation – everything that is related to the end goal." Clients emphasising tactile experiences benefit from collaborations with high-end luxury brands supplying premium fabrics and raw materials.
The Material Philosophy: Natural Over Artificial
Saboir maintains a strict material philosophy that prioritises natural substances over synthetic alternatives. "What we are avoiding is usually materials with a lot of plastic and polymers inside, or anything that is artificial," she explains. Safety considerations represent a primary motivation, as artificial textiles often fail burn tests and demonstrate higher flammability compared to natural materials like cashmere, cotton, wool, silk, genuine leather, real wood, and stone.
The sensory experience matters equally, particularly given the substantial investments involved. "Imagine when all the walls are super close to you, you really see the fibres of the fabric because it's next to your face," Saboir notes. "Everything is the highest quality," she emphasises, adding that owners increasingly prefer to "avoid artificial materials whenever it's possible. We can have cashmere on the walls, on the seats, you can have a 100 percent silk carpet."
Notable Projects and Client Expectations
Last year marked Saboir's first foray into commercial aircraft exteriors, contributing to a custom-designed Boeing 777-300ER for Qatar Airways, a Formula 1 partner. However, her most ambitious undertaking remains a "multi-year project" for a Middle Eastern client that began four years ago and remains unfinished at the time of her interview.
Working with such affluent clients demands exceptional attention to detail and an understanding of elevated expectations. Saboir acknowledges that her clients "are used to getting exactly what they want – and it's no different when they're looking for a luxury cabin interior." The designer approaches each project with the understanding that, for her discerning clientele, expectations soar as high as the aircraft's cruising altitude.
