Airbus x Cyril Kongo

Artful Airbus

Airbus Corporate Jets enlists contemporary artist Cyril Kongo to bring a splash of colour to the TwoTwenty.

© Airbus

Private jets often take their design cues from the luxury residential sector, with plush materials in calming tones making for a soothing setting in the skies. But for those wanting a little more character in the cabin, Airbus Corporate Jets (ACJ) has collaborated with contemporary artist Cyril Kongo to create a design statement for its TwoTwenty model.

The special edition sees the cabin interiors enhanced with Kongo’s trademark aesthetic, which has graced everything from window displays for Hermes to catwalk collections for Chanel. Defined as calligraphic abstraction with fluid lines and bold use of colour, the graffitistyle works will cover almost every surface of the cabin, including carpets, tabletops and soft furnishings. Of note is the lounge, which combines murals on the wall panels and ceiling – partly handpainted by Kongo himself – with sofas and cushions in vibrant illustrations to create a private art gallery.

Kongo and the ACJ team – led by Head of Design Sylvain Mariat – took full advantage of the TwoTwenty’s large fuselage, which is at least two times wider than other business jets, allowing for a spacious cabin for working, dining and relaxation.

With 73m2 of floorspace and capacity for up to 19 passengers, the TwoTwenty will be the only business jet to offer six spacious living areas, including a bedroom with king-size bed and en suite bathroom with rainshower. It has intercontinental range capable of flying up to 10,500km non-stop, and like others in the portfolio, benefits from smart features such as electro-chromatic window shades, LED mood lighting, an intuitive temperature control system and USB sockets at every seat. Comlux has been confirmed as the exclusive outfitting partner with the first aircraft set to enter service in 2023. Though there are three other interior design styles to choose from, it’s only the Cyril Kongo edition that brings the idea of the art gallery to the skies.