This $1,000 Airbnb Lets You Sleep Inside a Drug Lord’s Plane
An industrial estate in Bristol, England, hosts one of Airbnb’s most unusual listings: a fully refurbished Boeing 727 that now functions as a luxury overnight stay. The aircraft is widely reported to have been linked to Pablo Escobar, though its complete ownership record has never been conclusively verified. The jet’s reinvention has turned it into a destination that attracts global attention.
The Jet’s Complicated History
Image via Wikimedia Commons/Richard Vandervord
The aircraft was manufactured in 1968 for Japan Airlines and converted into a private jet in 1981. After decades in service, it was taken out of operation in 2012. Over time, stories accumulated around the plane, including claims that it was once used by Pablo Escobar, along with speculation that it passed through the hands of an Arab prince and figures connected to organized crime.
Public records have not confirmed these accounts, and even the current owner acknowledges that portions of the jet’s past remain unclear. The uncertainty has become part of its draw.
How the Plane Ended Up on Airbnb
Entrepreneur Johnny Palmer acquired the Boeing 727 after its final flight and transported it to a private industrial site in Bristol. The jet arrived without wings or engines and only contained its fuselage and interior framework.
Palmer committed several years to restoring the aircraft, personally completing much of the electrical work while coordinating plumbing and structural updates with specialists. The personal project eventually evolved into a rentable property once the jet was fully outfitted for overnight stays.
What $1,000 a Night Includes
The interior has been redesigned to function as a self-contained residence. Inside, guests find two ensuite double bedrooms, three bathrooms, and a full kitchen.
Additional amenities include a sauna, a rooftop hot tub, leather seating, walnut paneling, crystal details, and gold-plated bathroom fixtures. The cockpit remains intact and accessible, with functioning lights and a custom light-and-sound program that simulates takeoff.
The jet now runs on solar power, and while it will never return to flight, most onboard systems are operational. Guests can walk the length of the cabin, sit in the pilot’s seat, and experience the scale and layout of a private jet from the inside.
Bookings Fill Quickly
Image via iStockphoto/GoodLifeStudio
Nightly rates can reach $1,000, and availability is often reserved months ahead. Interest centers on the experience itself rather than traditional hospitality. Guests are drawn to the combination of aviation design, luxury renovation, and the cultural mythology associated with the aircraft.
Palmer has described the stay as a form of role play that allows visitors to step into an exaggerated version of wealth and exclusivity for a short time.
Beyond overnight stays, the jet has been used as a creative venue. Palmer has allowed local artists to use the aircraft for music videos and other projects without charge.
A Curated Stay, Not a Historical Exhibit
The listing does not present the aircraft as a museum or make definitive claims about its rumored past. The focus remains on atmosphere, design, and experience, with the jet’s history serving as background context. Guests are invited to engage with the idea of the plane without being asked to accept its mythology as documented fact.
Its location has helped make the project possible. Industrial zoning has limited objections, which gives Palmer the freedom to pursue unconventional renovations that would not be approved in residential areas. He has also indicated plans to add a second, larger aircraft nearby in the future.