A short video offers us a rare insight into the passenger cabin of the RAF Voyager, an Airbus A330 used by the UK Royal Family and other top government officials. As it turns out, these VIP travelers use the same business class seat onboard the RAF Voyager that you and I do on many commercial flights.
A Rare Look In Passenger Cabin Of RAF Voyager Jet Used To Transport Royal Family
King Charles and Queen Camilla flew to Kenya in late October, their first visit to the Commonwealth Nation since Charles ascended to the throne in 2022. To reach Kenya, the royals used the Royal Air Force Voyager, which began service as a aerial refueling tanker (and still maintains that ability), but was retrofitted in 2016 to accommodate VIP travel. The Airbus A330 is now use by figures like the Prime Minster, Royal Family, or other top officials for state travel. In 2020, it was repainted with a controversial new livery.
> Read More: The Controversial Paint Job On Britain’s “Air Force One”
If you were expecting private cabins like the Etihad Residence/Apartments (or like the modified 747-200 known as Air Force One when transporting the US president), think again. The Royal Family shared a 7-second video of Charles and Camilla onboard and the cabin looks much like a business class cabin in a commercial airline.
✈️ The King and Queen flew to Kenya today ahead of their State Visit, which begins tomorrow.
Follow #RoyalVisitKenya for the latest updates. pic.twitter.com/OkX55eFuwk
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) October 30, 2023
In fact, I can specifically identify the seats as Thompson Aero Vantage XL, which I just reviewed on my SAS A350-900 flight report earlier this week. Other carriers that use this seat include Delta Air Lines, Philippine Airlines, and Qantas. It does appear that there are two compact sleeping berths in the very front of the RAF Voyager cabin, but those look more like crew rest seats than for passengers.
While still quite plush for intercontinental transport, it’s hardly a cutting-edge or luxury product compared to some of the first class product or private jet configurations that transport other heads of state and top officials.
Interesting I was under the impression they always flew commercial or private (non military), paying market rates
Kind of a snub of BA and its First Class for them not to use it on such a journey
@Greg … First class does not provide the security they need .
Also , First class is not what it used to be . Airlines charge eye-watering prices to fleece the fools who pay . Too many ‘non-rev friends or employees’ are assigned FC these days .
I’d argue the Club World Suite I flew to Kenya three weeks ago was nicer. They probably had better food though. The current lamb dish on BA legit looks and tastes like dog food.
The seats are fine. They don’t need doors because nobody will look at them, unlike on a crowded flight.
The King is using government money so these off the shelf seats are fine. He is not like the Sultan of Brunei, who owns that country.
The President of the United States also need not be treated like a God. The President has a light schedule, particularly on weekends, not busy like a neurosurgeon. A desk for the President makes sense in case he has to persuade Senators on the phone or conduct war during a flight.
Same with the German Luftwaffe fleet for our government.
Even the new sexy A350s of this fleet basically have the outdated 2-2-2 Lufthansa Business Class fitted. Poor chancellor Scholz:(
I’m not anti royal family. I’m glad the US doesn’t pay for them but nothing against them and I enjoy that the Brits pay for the pageantry for the rest of us.
That said… does this video say anything more than that there are these seats (as a place) on the plane? The Royal Family is quite good at marketing and I wouldn’t post a photo of the King and Queen in the residence bed either if I were them.
The plane is large and these could easily just be the “seats” as opposed to a bedroom with a real bed or conference room as well?
I wouldn’t give the Brits a hard time for having more than just these J seats. Air Force 1 is far more spacious and, you’d think, the new 748 will have their lounger section filled with these type seats too vs the current old school loungers AF1 has now
I flew 10 hours in Qantas business class on one of these seats from Sydney to Honolulu just this past week. Perfectly comfortable for sitting and sleeping.