I transformed Boeing 727 ‘once owned by Pablo Escobar’ into ultimate Airbnb with hot tub & sauna – now I make £850 a day
A MAN has revealed how he makes £850 a day after transforming a Boeing 727 “once owned by Pablo Escobar” into an ultimate Airbnb with a hot tub and a sauna.
Johnny Palmer, founder of PYTCH, bought the 57-year-old aircraft in mid-2020 after it had been scrapped but its fuselage preserved.
Now, after turning it into an Airbnb, the entrepreneur makes up to £850 a day when the property is rented out.
He said: “Some people have been saying it’s the most expensive accommodation in Bristol.
“It goes up to £850 for Christmas Day which is bloody expensive for four people.”
Johnny said while some stay over at the property, others will just use it for a party and go home at the end of the night.
The kitted out 727 comes with a sauna and a hot tub as well as space for four guests and a full kitchen.
Johnny added that the transformed aircraft is very popular both with visitors and locals.
The businessman said: “It’s got a lot of support.
“People in the area like it because it makes a s****y industrial estate quite an interesting part of town.”
The property is available for hire on Christmas day and comes with “a bit of Christmas décor” alongside a few Santa hats.
“People can have a Christmas dinner in a billionaire’s private jet, 32 feet from the ground,” he said.
“With the cost of living crisis, you might not be able to afford getting away but you can stay on a private jet and have your Christmas dinner in the air.”
The entrepreneur also touched on the jet’s lengthy history of service, including rumours it was owned by Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar.
First owned by Japan Airlines in passenger service from 1967 to 1975, the 727 was then converted into a VIP private aircraft.
Johnny said: “I’ve heard rumours that Pablo Escobar might have owned it for a while.
“It’s all Cayman Islands registered so you don’t know who you’re dealing with.
“Someone said it was used as a dark flight to move some prisoners round in the 80s somewhere.”
The aircraft also now has an interactive light show, combined with the sound of the plane taking off, for guests to experience.
It took its final flight in 2012 to Filton Airfield in Bristol before it was transported by road to Kemble Airfield.
In 2018, Johnny visited Kemble and was shown around the aircraft he called “majestic”.
He bought the aircraft in mid-2020 before it was transported to its final site in Brislington in February 2021.
It sits atop a custom built frame on top of shipping containers, and can be booked on Airbnb.