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Some of the world’s fanciest aircraft descended on Switzerland this week.
Business Insider tracked some of the most important private jets and government aircraft.
We’ve previously toured ones similar to Elon Musk’s Gulfstream G650, among others.
Some of the world’s wealthiest and most powerful people traveled to Switzerland this week, to attend the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos.
That meant some of the world’s fanciest aircraft descended on nearby airports, too.
Business Insider has been tracking the private jets and government aircraft that arrived there this week.
On Monday alone, there were around 160 private jet arrivals from over 40 countries spread across five continents.
The majority appeared to land at Zurich Airport, which is 75 miles from Davos. In a press release, the airport said it expected more than 1,000 extra takeoffs and landings due to the WEF.
Others landed at Friedrichshafen, over the border with Germany, or St Gallen, also near Lake Constance.
From Elon Musk’s Gulfstream G650 to Air Force One, here’s some of the most impressive aircraft.
The most popular private jet was the Gulfstream G650.
Elon Musk boarding his Gulfstream G650 in 2023. The same plane arrived in Zurich on Thursday. JADE GAO/AFP via Getty Images
On Monday, 31 of the 157 private jet arrivals were Gulfstream G650s.
Throughout the week in Switzerland, data from JetSpy showed such planes belonging to: Elon Musk, Bill Gates, Blackstone, BlackRock, and JPMorgan Chase.
It costs at least $65 million to buy one new.
A Gulfstream G650 on display at an airshow. Taylor Rains/Business Insider
Gulfstream jets are known for their large, circular windows, which give high-flyers great views.
Business jets can be configured in different ways depending on what the customer wants. Sometimes, they have double beds and an on-board shower.
It’s more likely that a billionaire flying solo would choose that, whereas a company would probably prefer more seats.
However, the most awe-striking private jets were decked-out versions of the Boeing 737 airliner.
A Boeing 737 business jet pictured at Newcastle Airport in 2023. Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images
These are pretty rare to see since they’re so spacious compared to other business jets. A Boeing Business Jet version of the 737 Max costs about $100 million.
Flight-tracking data showed a private 737 that flew from Dubai to Zurich on Sunday. Another one from Dubai went to Friedrichshafen, a lakeside German city just over the Swiss border, on Tuesday.
Some governments also use the 737 to transport political leaders. In Switzerland this week, flight-tracking data showed such planes belonging to the United Arab Emirates and the Netherlands.
Business Insider toured a similar plane at a private jet exhibition in Geneva last year.
The interior of a Boeing 737 Max business jet. Pete Syme/Business Insider
Due to its size, the Boeing 737 business jet is even more customizable than Gulfstream or Bombardier aircraft.
Sometimes they are laid out like a typical airliner, with six seats abreast. But there is room for all sorts of amenities, too.
Business Insider toured one in 2024, which had an on-board bar, two double bedrooms, and two showers.
Also this week, the world’s newest private jet was on display.
The interior of a Gulfstream G800. Courtesy of Gulfstream
The first Gulfstream G800 was only delivered last August, so they’re still relatively rare to see. It costs about $70 million to buy one.
A handful of them flew into Swiss airports this week. JetSpy data shows they included ones owned by Visa, Qualcomm, and Pfizer.
It’s big enough to have room for four living areas on board. Passengers also shouldn’t feel as fatigued as flying commercial, because the G800’s cabin pressure makes it feel like the altitude is 2,480 feet. On the newest airliners, like the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, the cabin altitude is more like 6,000 feet.
The Bombardier Global series was also especially popular with attendees.
A Bombardier Global 7500 at Farnborough Airport, near London, in 2024. Pete Syme/Business Insider
According to data from JetSpy, the above jet is owned by Robert F. Smith, the billionaire founder of Vista Equity Partners. The private equity firm’s logo is on the tail.
Flight-tracking data shows this Global 7500 flew from Atlanta to Zurich, about 75 miles from Davos, last Saturday.
JetSpy data showed that other Bombardier plans that landed in Switzerland this week include ones owned by: Avram Glazer, the Manchester United co-owner; Steve Witkoff, the special envoy to the Middle East; and the quantitative hedge fund Two Sigma.
The Global 7500 costs $75 million and is nicknamed the “Ferrari of the Skies.”
A double bed on board a Bombardier Global 7500. Pete Syme/Business Insider
This is the interior of a Global 7500 owned by VistaJet, a private charter firm that operates the most such jets. Several of its planes touched down in Switzerland during the week of the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting.
The French governmental jet was nearly as stylish as its president’s sunglasses.
The French government’s Dassault Falcon 7X, pictured in 2023. LUDOVIC MARIN/AFP via Getty Images
Emmanuel Macron appeared to arrive in Davos on Tuesday. That morning, two French government jets — a Dassault Falcon 7X and a smaller Falcon 900 — flew to Zurich from an air base near Paris.
However, it appears he left before Trump’s speech.
Even the president couldn’t help compliment Macron’s eyewear, which spawned plenty of memes and jokes online. “Those beautiful sunglasses,” Trump said. “What the hell happened?”
Macron has worn them in public in recent days due to an eye problem.
Many others also flew to Switzerland in Dassault Falcons.
The interior of a Dassault Falcon 8X. Pete Syme/Business Insider
A Dassault Falcon 8X arrived in Zurich from Scottsdale, Arizona, on Tuesday, flight-tracking data showed.
It costs about $60 million to buy a new one, or $14,000 an hour to charter.
More popular than the Falcon 8X in Switzerland this week was the smaller Falcon 2000 jet.
When Air Force One arrived after a tumultuous journey, planespotters may have been underwhelmed.
AP Photo/Arnd Wiegmann
Trump was supposed to fly to Zurich aboard the usual presidential jet, a Boeing VC-25A. It’s a militarized version of the Boeing 747 airliner.
However, 30 minutes into his journey, the plane U-turned and went back to Joint Base Andrews. He instead flew on a Boeing C-32A. It’s not quite as fancy and is usually used as the Vice President’s Air Force Two. Any plane carrying the president is designated as Air Force One while he is on it.
This week served as a reminder of Trump’s impatience with Boeing over delays in building the new Air Force One.
His press secretary took the opportunity to mention the 747 that he was gifted by Qatar. That plane is currently undergoing modifications and refitting by the Air Force.
Some of the prettiest pictures came when Marine One flew through the Alps.
Marine One flew to the Swiss Alps on Wednesday. Mandel NGAN / AFP
The Sikorsky VH-60N White Hawk flew in a convoy of at least five helicopters. They took about 40 minutes to fly from Zurich Airport to Davos on Wednesday.
Dozens more political leaders attended Davos as well.
The plane carrying Mark Carney arrived in Beijing last Wednesday. Cai Yang/Xinhua via Getty Images
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has had a busy start to the year.
He flew on a military version of the Airbus A330. It first arrived in Beijing on January 14, flew to Doha a few days later, and then to Zurich on Monday.
Carney won plenty of attention for his speech in Davos about the change in world politics since Trump’s election. “We are in the midst of a rupture, not a transition,” he said.
Some government jets were more eye-catching than others.
A Gulfstream G650 owned by Azerbaijan’s government, pictured in Zurich in 2019. Robert Smith/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
The above Azerbaijani private jet landed in Zurich on Tuesday.
Javier Milei had a particularly long journey to Switzerland.
The Boeing 757 operated by the Argentinian government. Bodo Marks/picture alliance via Getty Images
The Argentine government’s Boeing 757 jet, registered as “ARG-01,” arrived in Zurich on Tuesday.
Flight-tracking data showed it departed Buenos Aires on Monday evening, then stopped in the Canary Islands, before heading to Switzerland. The journey took about 15 hours.
