Dubai: Commercial airliners are looking to the private jet market for first and business class cabin inspiration as they try to capture a wider share of the high-end travel market.

Airlines — particularly in the Middle East — have invested millions of dollars in developing premium products that will attract big spending travellers. A number of airlines now offer on-board showers to first and business class passengers.

Emirates’ first class features private suites on-board its A380s along with a bar and its own dedicated bartender while Etihad’s A380s will feature The Residence, a three-room suite that includes a butler.

Specialised companies regularly compete for lucrative commercial airline contracts to fit out first and business class cabins. But airlines are also consulting with Airbus’ corporate division.

More and more we are seeing very high end airlines coming and seeing us, asking what we can do for them, said Benoit Defforge, Airbus Corporate Jets (ACJ) president, at a press briefing in Dubai on Sunday.

Benoit said ACJ has completed post-delivery modifications on the cabin interior for some commercial airlines.

“The airlines get benefit from our outfitting expertise,” he said.

Etihad has said The Residence is a private jet offering at a more affordable price. Passengers can travel from Abu Dhabi to London for $20,000 — much less than the $100,000 Etihad President and Chief Executive James Hogan has said it costs in a private jet.

ACJ is in Dubai this week pitching a recently announced cabin concept, ACJ 330 Summit, for the airlines long-haul aircraft the A330 to the Middle East market. The concept, predominantly targeting the government market, is also an integration of the private and commercial airline segment.

The ACJ 330 Summit includes a bedroom, office and boardroom but also features a series of economy-style seats. Airbus said these could be used by reporters, or business delegates, accompanying a head of state.

“In the way you build the cabin there are some synergies [between commercial and corporate aircraft],” said Benoit.

The Middle East market accounts for half of ACJ 170 aircraft sales, with the bulk coming from oil-rich Gulf States.