aircraft firegeezer on 11 Jan 2009 03:27 pm
This Idea Just Might Fly
THERE HAVE BEEN ATTEMPTS BEFORE to tap into the layover clientele at airports and offer short-term sleeping arrangements (Sky-Tel comes to mind). But a man in Sweden is starting a new venture for airport lodgers that is a combination of motel and hostel that he is calling Jumbo Hostel.
Oscar Dios has taken a retired Boeing 747 and parked it on the grounds of the Stockholm airport and converted it into hostel-type lodgings. He has divided the main cabin into small compartments that contain one or two beds and a television along with free wireless internet. There is a community bathroom, however. Depending on size, the rates vary from $45 a night for a 20-sq. ft. dorm room to $175 for a deluxe private room.
The first-class cabin has been converted to a cafe that will be open 24 hours and the upper-level lounge is being preserved as such with the original seating. The cockpit is being made into a “honeymoon suite” and will be the only room that has a private bath.
The UK Guardian put together this video report of the Jumbo Hostel:
The 20-room facility has 85 beds so far with more being inserted into the former engine housings. It is scheduled to open for business this Thursday, Jan. 15, and if it is successful, Dios plans to open more of them.
Wired has MORE.
Jumbo Hostel WEBSITE.
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2 Responses to “This Idea Just Might Fly”
on 12 Jan 2009 at 8:26 am 1.Mike Love said …
I wonder what they did to increase fire safety and egress? Now that it is lodging it has a higher risk and more restrictive safety needs. It is a good idea
Mike
on 12 Jan 2009 at 1:25 pm 2.firegeezer said …
One of the first things that I noticed was the apparent fire safety hazard. High occupancy in a small space, no sprinklers, what looks like flammable interior and a definite restricted egress.
Doesn’t look good through our eyes, does it? It would certainly have to undergo some more remodeling before it could be used in most cities here.
Firegeezer