Meet the Artisans Behind the Art of Flight

Jet Aviation is a proud show partner for Art Basel in Basel. The partnership draws on Jet Aviation’s long association with global art fairs and events, including hosting guests at Art Basel in Basel, Hong Kong, Miami Beach, and Paris over the past five years. Joining as a Show Partner builds on this relationship, bringing the story of Jet Aviation to visitors of Art Basel in Basel, in an exclusive private space in the Collector’s Lounge, premiering during the 2026 event.

Inspired by the artistry and craftsmanship our VVIP completions, the Lounge is designed as a haven of peace and tranquility amid the dynamic environment of the fair. To celebrate bringing this story to life during Art Basel in Basel, we speak to some of the artisans behind the art of flight.

Christoph Heitz, Senior Lead Technical Design

I have been working at Jet Aviation for more than 30 years, and I take pride in transforming ambitious concepts into concrete, high-quality cabin environments that delight our customers. Seeing our designs come to life, reflecting both technical excellence and creative vision provides me with a deep sense of accomplishment.

The Design Studio is the bridge between customer vision and the final completion. As a Senior Lead Technical Design, I oversee and guide the development of complex LOPAs, elevations, and sections during the Concept & Upfront completion phase, ensuring design integrity, compliance and feasibility. Many people may be surprised by the breadth and complexity of the role. It goes far beyond creating visually appealing interiors; but also balancing strict regulatory requirements, technical constraints, and client preferences, while coordinating with multiple departments. It demands a strong level of precision, skills, adaptability, and the ability to manage unexpected challenges throughout the project. I also play a role in mentoring and guiding the team, fostering innovation and collaboration, which contributes to both personal and collective success.

I find the greatest enjoyment in the creative and technical challenges in my present role. Bringing unique cabin concepts to life, solving complex design problems, and seeing ideas materialize into exceptional interiors is deeply rewarding. Collaboration with talented colleagues across disciplines, and the satisfaction of exceeding customer expectations all contributes to a fulfilling work experience. The dynamic nature of each project and the chance to innovate within a world-class environment make my job both engaging and enjoyable. Knowing that my expertise directly impacts the satisfaction and comfort of our customers, and that my work upholds the company’s reputation for excellence, is a source of genuine pride for me.

Franck Britschu, Workshop Team Leader, Cabin Installation

As a cabin supervisor, I have the privilege to see the transformation of the interior. My role is to liaise between the different teams, shops, and processes to ensure that the cabin is created seamlessly, from arrival to final delivery, respecting quality, functionality, and customer expectations.

People are often surprised by the level of coordination, precision, and attention to detail it requires for every element of the cabin experience. Even the smallest details demand a great deal of preparation and teamwork.

I really enjoy this teamwork, the technical challenges, and participating in unique projects where each aircraft has its own specific characteristics and customer expectations.

I am always proud to see the completed aircraft and to know that our team has contributed to creating an environment that meets the most demanding safety and quality standards of VIP aviation. Also, I like to see and hear that the team was able to enjoy themselves while working hard!

Isabelle Liermann, Senior Supply Chain Project Manager

In my role I help transform each customer’s vision into a bespoke cabin experience by coordinating the development of highly customized interior elements in close collaboration with design, engineering, and our suppliers. Together, we refine and craft every detail over months of development to achieve the highest level of quality, precision, and bespoke design. My role is to ensure this creativity and craftsmanship are delivered flawlessly, by managing supplier coordination, timelines, budgets, and delivery milestones so every component arrives at the right moment within the overall aircraft completion schedule.

The role combines creativity, technical expertise, supplier management, negotiation, and problem-solving on a global scale, which means no two days are ever the same. One day I may be coordinating material deliveries and managing budgets, and the next I could be working with engineering on highly technical developments, visiting suppliers to inspect bespoke materials and craftsmanship, or finding solutions to unexpected challenges. 

I enjoy being part of the incredible journey that transforms an aircraft cabin from an empty space into a fully furnished, bespoke flying apartment of the highest standard. Seeing a customer’s vision come to life through the collaboration, craftsmanship, and precision of all teams involved is extremely rewarding. I have always been passionate about aviation, and being part of the completion process, helping transform these aircraft into exceptional bespoke interiors, makes me very proud. When I describe my job to friends and family, they often say it sounds like a dream job, and in many ways, it truly is.

“People are often surprised by the level of coordination, precision, and attention to detail it requires for every element of the cabin experience — even the smallest details demand a great deal of preparation and teamwork.”

Clement Flohr, Workshop Team Leader Cabinet Shop

I am a workshop team lead in the cabinet shop, in charge of the veneer application and molding manufacturing for the unique pieces of furniture we craft for VIP aircraft interiors. Using wood in a living space brings something special. There is always wonderful mixture of colors and patterns of the wood grain. This changes the atmosphere, and brings warmth and brightness, things we all need in our lives!

My role requires me to be meticulous about detail, adjusting and selecting the perfect wood vein for that particular project. Every piece is different, and we are looking for the absolute best, matched seamlessly. I feel incredibly proud to have the chance to work for a company that empowers us to craft these beautiful pieces of furniture. Transforming trees into a piece of furniture, and seeing the final results achieved after months of work and collaboration across a wide range of skills and disciplines, is always very satisfying.

At the same time, we are performing this high-end custom woodwork while adhering to the complexity and technical requirements of the aerospace industry. It is a unique challenge, and every day I work to find the best way to combine the craft, skill and manufacturing and align my job with that of my colleagues to ensure the best results possible.

Carlos Alvarez, Sales Director Completions

My role is very unique. As the entry point, we set the expectations for the customer throughout the Completion process. We tell the Jet Aviation story, which is one of both legacy and innovation; craftsmanship and technology; and an attention to every detail which makes each project we work on truly special.

In the same way, my role is never repetitive. Our customers are all different; they have different needs from their cabin, different tastes and priorities, and different ideas on how they want these to come to life. We are also working with a lot of different people. We may be directly communicating with an owner, or we may never meet them and work with their team. We need to be able to adapt to the ways of working that suit that individual, and understand what their needs are from every interaction.

While we do everything we can to bring the customer’s ideas to life, we must always take into account regulatory challenges. Customers appreciate honesty and us guiding them towards the best approach, while doing everything we can to fulfill their wishes. But at the same time, that’s what I love about my job, because the challenges are what make our role interesting. It’s always exciting, especially when the requests really push the boundaries. We find our greatest inspiration in complex requests. Flexibility, proactiveness, communication skills, technical knowledge and good commercial sense are all skills that help me.

I’m always impressed with our final product and the skills of my colleagues in making it happen. When you see how happy the customer is as well, that’s a very proud moment.

Thomas Darmoise, Manager Internal Logistics

Logistics is the backbone of the completions process: it ensures parts availability and synchronized flows, enabling production teams to focus on quality and finishing touches that define an exceptional cabin experience. As a manager of internal logistics, I ensure that the right components are in the right place, at the right time, and in the right condition to keep operation/production running smoothly without interruption.

Efficient logistics ensures on-time delivery, consistent quality, and no delays or compromises, directly contributing to a flawless final product and a seamless customer experience. When I see the aircraft delivered on time with a high level of quality, knowing that our logistics organization played a key role behind the scenes in making it happen, I feel very proud.

It is an incredibly varied role and that’s what I enjoy about it. The variety of challenges and the level of coordination required every day is different and calls for anticipation, responsiveness, and strong teamwork. Every detail matters: a single missing or late component can impact the entire process, making logistics a highly strategic function, not just an operational one.

“I feel incredibly proud to have the chance to work for a company that empowers us to craft these beautiful pieces of furniture. Transforming trees into a piece of furniture, and seeing the final results achieved after months of work and collaboration across a wide range of skills and disciplines, is always very satisfying.”

Agnès Boussemart, Completions Program Director

Behind every exceptional cabin lies strong coordination between design, engineering, production, installation, suppliers, deadlines, and customer expectations. My role is to align all these elements so that every cabin detail feels effortless for the customer, delivering comfort, discretion, and elegance in a perfectly tailored environment. 

I am responsible for coordinating people, timelines and priorities to make sure projects move forward smoothly and get delivered on time, on budget and on quality. I am here to ensure that we meet, and exceed, our customers’ expectations. 

There is no standard day, and I am touching a wide range of subjects, from customer hospitality organization, team active listening, project decision, LT reporting, supplier performance feedback, delivery gift proposal…even looking for mobile screens for the morning shipside meeting! I just do what is necessary to keep the gears turning. Every project is also different and is an opportunity to learn and bring me to the next level. I constantly elevate not only on technical side but also personally. My job combines two areas to which I attach great importance, the experience, and the aviation. What more can I ask?!

This is where technology and craftsmanship reach for the sky. I am so proud of our ability to innovate, to think out of the box, to go the extra mile, and be a game changer in this demanding environment. That is only possible through our people, truly passionate individuals who continuously evolve beyond established standards. Excellence is never a final destination, it’s an ongoing mindset. 

Laurent Grahn, Chief Engineer

Jet Aviation has been pioneering new ideas for VIP completions since we launched the very first bespoke VIP interior in 1977. My role is to continue this legacy, leading the innovation and R&D team, developing advanced solutions and products to elevate the cabin experience to new heights

My involvement begins at the earliest stages of each project, where I anticipate customer needs and drive the development of innovative solutions that shape the future of cabin design. The solutions we develop are then integrated into new cabins, directly enhancing the comfort, functionality, and overall satisfaction of our customers.

I truly enjoy the opportunity to work with a diverse range of technologies, which keeps my role dynamic and intellectually stimulating. It is incredibly rewarding to see a customer’s genuine excitement and amazement during the unveiling of our latest product prototypes, which they can experience in-person during design and planning, as part of our on-site Innovation Space.

“It’s always exciting, especially when the requests really push the boundaries. We find our greatest inspiration in complex requests.”

Raffi Basmajian, Workshop Technician – Finishing & Integration

People are often surprised by the range of materials we are able to use in aircraft interior upholstery. We are working with some incredible elements, such as hand-embroidered silk fabrics, different leathers, and innovative new products. These all help us to create the high-end bespoke interior the customer is looking for. But underneath it all is the craftsmanship that brings it to life.

My part in that is realizing the customers’ wishes from design phase, in production through excellent know-how and craftsmanship in the field of interiors and finishing. We are interacting with our colleagues, other teams in the business, and directly with the customer to achieve this, ensuring we are aligned with their values, needs and expectations at every stage. This plays a big role in achieving – and keeping – their trust and ultimate satisfaction.

It’s a great source of pride for me to know that the parts I produce are seen, used and enjoyed by the customer in each and every flight. Our work and attention to detail directly affects how they experience their cabin. I’m always trying to achieve and exceed their expectations.

Maxime Job, Scheduler

When explaining my role, I often say: the Project Director is like the captain steering the ship, and we as Schedulers are right beside them, helping to guide the way with the telescope, though they ultimately set the direction.

Our goal is to make the completion process seamless for the customer. We are involved from the very beginning, working on cabin configurations during initial discussions with the customers. Our focus is on identifying how we can maximize the schedule, ensuring we consider all materials, technologies and processes. By gathering feedback from all core team members, including the customer, we help build the best possible project plan in terms of quality, schedule, configuration, sequencing, and budget. I enjoy finding solutions and creative approaches to manage schedules and sequences, and guide the team through any challenges or changes that might arise once a project is underway. We all work together as a team to achieve project success, finding collective solutions that keep the project aligned with customer expectations.

Many people are surprised to learn that this role goes far beyond planning and scheduling. It involves coordinating a wide range of activities, supporting teams with processes and tools, helping manage workloads and priorities, improving ways of working, and contributing to decision-making. It requires working with almost all stakeholders through the completion process, from Design and Installation teams to Supply Chain and Hangar Operations, adapting to changing priorities, and ensuring that projects and daily operations run smoothly in a fast-paced environment. We are a link between all parts of the organization. The more our work enables collaboration and remains invisible in day-to-day operations, the more efficiently the entire chain can operate. I really enjoy this unique environment we work in. My role allows me to participate in high-level team or customer meetings in the morning, discussing global strategies, and then spend the afternoon in the shop, collaborating with colleagues from various specialties, such as cabinet making or upholstery, to ensure an effortless customer experience.

Jet Aviation is a Proud Show Partner of Art Basel in Basel. Discover more here.