Tesco had also taken out leases on two Hawker 800s, a Cessna Citation, and another more up-to-date Gulfstream — which it took delivery of but sold last November.
Sources confirmed the sale of the Gulfstream 550’s lease. Tesco’s last jet is the Hawker, which is expected be sold by the end of next month.
According to last year’s Gulfstream 550 sales guide, it can fly 14 passengers on “Edelman beige leather” seats, with fittings including “maple burl gloss” and “antique bronze”.
Plush: the Gulfstream 550, which has a list price of £42 million and an interior featuring “the softest, hand-tailored leathers”
It has a “full-sized galley” and buyers can choose “the softest, hand-tailored leathers, thousands of exquisite fabrics”.
The aircraft has a range of nearly 8,000 miles and can fly non-stop from London to Tokyo or Los Angeles.
One aircraft broker said: “The seats on these planes alone can cost anything between $17,000 and $20,000. You have to consider the tilt, the leather, the built-in flat-screen televisions. This is a different league to BA business class.”
The Gulfstream’s list price is £42 million but second-hand market prices are lower, and recent reports suggested Tesco had cut the asking price, taking it from £24 million to £20 million.
Tesco is laying off thousands of staff, and plans to vacate a Mayfair office. Lewis said in October that he had decided to end use of corporate jets.
