The BBJ name later came to represent any Boeing aircraft modified to serve in a business jet role.
The BBJ MAX replaces and improves upon the original BBJ 737 family, featuring a lower 6,500 ft cabin altitude for enhanced passenger comfort as well as a 15% reduction in fuel burn and an increase in range to over 6,000 nmi brought by new CFM LEAP-1B engines, improved aerodynamics, auxiliary fuel tanks, and other systems.
Unlike most commercial 737s, the BBJ MAX is fitted with retractable airstairs to allow independent operations at remote airfields.
Direct operating costs are estimated at $5,200 to $5,600 per hour, which is lower than many purpose-built business jets of similar size.
It offered up to nine auxiliary belly fuel tanks to extend the aircraft's range to over 6,000 nautical miles [nmi] (11,000 km; 6,900 mi).
BBJs were initially operated by Fortune 100 companies like Aramco and Tracinda, NetJets, and casinos like the Las Vegas Sands.
However, the 2008 recession put ultra-large jets under scrutiny, and they were divested by many companies including The Limited, General Electric, and Occidental Petroleum.
Similarly, Xi Jinping's anti-corruption campaign reduced the conspicuous consumption of private jets in China.
BBJs are now operated by private firms and individuals: Fresno's Assemi Group, Miami's Crescent Heights, Wichita's Town & Country Food Market, Funair Corp., toymaker Ty, Fortress Transportation & Instructure, Jeffrey Katzenberg, John Travolta, Steven Spielberg, Washington Corp., Tutor Saliba or pachinko king Hideyuki Busujima, with many registrations hiding their owners’ identities.
[7] Most BBJs are operated by governments for VIP transport in U.S., Australia and Africa, plus Colombia, Turkey, India, UAE, Jordan, Malaysia, South Africa and Tunisia; or Middle East oil barons like Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Saudi Arabia royalty.