With luxury walnut and gold interiors, the location offers customers the “chance to live like a billionaire”
A private jet reportedly once owned by notorious cocaine kingpin Pablo Escobar has been converted into an Airbnb in Bristol, UK, complete with a hot tub and sauna.
The Boeing 727 hull is missing its wings and engines and features a renovated 1980s-style interior. Now called PYTCHAir, the plane has been spray-painted in bright colors and designs and offers its services from an industrial estate in Bristol.
Originally built in 1968, the jet was converted for private use in 1981 and eventually decommissioned in 2012, according to its current owner, businessman Johnny Palmer, who spoke to the Bristol Post in an article published Thursday.
“There is a bit of a roleplay cosplay thing going on there—people enjoy that experience and living that fantasy for a little while before returning to their normal lives,” Palmer said. Now, the grounded airliner offers customers the “chance to live like a billionaire at 32,” according to the Airbnb listing.
While the listing itself makes no mention of Pablo Escobar, and the plane’s former ownership in the Cayman Islands complicates tracking its previous owners, one past holder is thought to be the notorious drug lord, according to Palmer.
Escobar, the Colombian kingpin once dubbed the “king of cocaine” due to his leadership of the Medellín Cartel, controlled 80% of the world’s cocaine trade at its height. He was shot dead at his home in Colombia in 1993, though the exact circumstances of his death remain disputed.
According to Palmer, the plane's restoration was a project that took several years to complete. The interior, originally fitted in 1981, has been restored as best he could.
“I did a lot of the electrical work myself, and I had a plumber and a carpenter—many people were involved in the process,” he said.
The interior is adorned with walnut paneling, leather seats, and a gold-plated shower and toilet. An additional outdoor shower is complemented by a hot tub and sauna.
The cheapest nights at the Airbnb will cost customers £250 ($311), while peak nights could run as high as £850 ($1,056).
Income from the business will be reinvested into further restoring the jet and enhancing the overall experience, according to Palmer.