Most mere mortals land at Glasgow's Prestwick airport on Ryanair.
Donald
Trump made an ever so slightly more glamorous arrival today on one of
his Boeing 757 private jet, complete with a double bed, spacious lounge
with sofas, gold finishes and marble bathroom.
The
68-year-old mogul allowed cameras inside the luxurious plane to
announce a new partnership with the airport and his Trump Turnberry
resort, which he acquired for an undisclosed sum earlier this year.
VIP arrival: Trump flew in to Prestwick airport to announce a new partnership with the airport and his Trump Turnberry resort
Visitors
to the resort, which is undergoing a £250 million makeover, will be
able to jet into the airport on one of Trump's private planes, and be
transferred to the hotel, 20 miles away, by helicopter or chauffeured
car.
One of the fleet is the Boeing 757, which is said to be worth USD$100million (£63million).
The
757 interior features a lounge room with L-shaped couches and 52-inch
flatscreen TV, and a bathroom with a circular shower and marble sinks
with gold faucets. There is sleek cream seating embossed with the Trump
family crest and walnut tables and cabinets.
Trump
told press at Prestwick that he expected 'hundreds' of planes ferrying
Trump Turnberry guests to use the airport once the resort is completed
in 2016. He said: 'We are thrilled to be partnering with Glasgow
Prestwick Airport.
They have a
tremendous facility with a unique rich history. Their expert team and
state-of-the-art operation is perfectly aligned with our global client
and member base that travel frequently to Scotland and to Trump
Turnberry, one of the most beautiful destinations anywhere and home to
many of the finest golf resorts in the world including the legendary
Trump Turnberry and Trump International Golf Links in Aberdeen.'
Iain
Cochrane, chief executive of Prestwick Airport, said: 'We are very
excited to be working closely with the Trump Organisation going forward
and are delighted that Prestwick has been chosen to be the European base
for the Trump Sikorsky helicopter.
'Forging
a new partnership between the airport and the Trump Organisation will
undoubtedly be mutually beneficial to both parties. However, it will
also bring significant opportunities for the region as more inbound
visitors travel to visit the legendary Trump Turnberry Resort.'
The
US tycoon bought the iconic golf course and hotel earlier this year for
an undisclosed sum from the Dubai-based group, Leisurecorp, and said he
was determined to make it 'the finest resort of its kind anywhere in
the world.'
Now plans
submitted to South Ayrshire Council show his vision includes a huge
fountain to be placed outside the golf course's clubhouse.
An
image of the concrete grandiose feature, which will be 'patinated to
simulate marble', show it has a warrior battle figure on top of it and
is surrounded by lions.
It
is being made by Florida-based firm Bernardi USA who have previously
designed fountains for Trump's other resorts around the world.
The businessman is also planning to revamp the clubhouse by installing new plaques and expanded the golf shop there.
No objections have so far been received to the plans and the council is due to decide on the applications next month.
High tech: The cockpit is somewhat
less glamorous, with less gold finishes, but plenty of comfortable
seating for the pilot and co-pilot
After
completing the purchase of the resort in June, Trump said: 'I am
honoured to own and manage this magnificent property, perhaps the most
exciting property there is. We will be spending a great deal of time,
effort and money to make Trump Turnberry the finest resort of its kind
anywhere in the world.
'I
would like to thank Starwood Hotels & Resorts for working with us,
in the best interest of property, to bring about this historic
acquisition.'
'I would also like to thank all representatives in South Ayrshire for their support and wonderful statements to the media.'
Turnberry,
the first purpose-planned golfing resort in Britain, has hosted the
Open Championship four times, most recently in 2009.
Takeover: Trump purchased Turnberry resort earlier this year for an undisclosed sum from Dubai-based group, Leisurecorp
It
was the setting for the famous 1977 Duel in the Sun where Tom Watson
triumphed over Jack Nicklaus in what is regarded as one of the most
famous golf matches of all time.
The
signing of the deal represents a surprise U-turn for Mr Trump's
business dealings in Scotland. In February, he suggested he had no
further plans to invest in country following a controversial and
drawn-out dispute over a planned offshore wind farm near his Menie
Estate golf resort in Aberdeenshire.
Mr
Trump has been a vehement critic of the scheme, which he claimed would
spoil the view from his coastline course. His campaign against the wind
farm included an open letter to First Minister Alex Salmond.
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