As an addendum...I went to the Boeing website and viewed the recorded roll-out ceremony. After they dropped the curtain and did the ‘big reveal’, one of the VP’s for Boeing got up and explained the paint job.
He said “reds and oranges have been a symbol for many cultures of prosperity and good fortune”. So, the new livery is designed to market to “other cultures”.
I also went through Boeing’s website and looked at the promotional pictures for the new plane. One of them showed a woman in a first class seat. She was wearing a hajab.
In the rollout ceremony, they also had several aircraft models with liveries from different airlines. One of them was the livery of the BBJ...the Boeing Business Jet.
Excuse me? They plan to use a 747 as a private business jet??? Who in the bloody blue blazes would need that much space for a private jet?
A possible answer: The regular BBJ’s are customizable. Several Middle Eastern oil execs have bought BBJ’s, including several Saudi princes. I saw a news report one time about one particular prince who demanded a special compass be designed so that no matter where he was in the world, the device would always indicate where...you guessed it...Mecca was.
“Excuse me? They plan to use a 747 as a private business jet??? Who in the bloody blue blazes would need that much space for a private jet?”
Those who can’t afford a A380 as a private business jet. :-)
P.s. Al’Waeed will get both, a private A380 and a 747-8i for traveling with less luggage on shorter trips :-)