At the recent Farnborough International Air Show, usually abuzz with the latest in jet envy, market experts were instead agreeing that the U.S. demand for business jets has softened considerably. And some companies are pulling the plug on private jet travel unless the circumstances truly justify it. Supposedly due to the current economic downturn and not a response to surging fuel costs, the decrease in U.S. demand for corporate jets is in stark contrast to burgeoning sales in Russia and the Middle East, whose new moguls are shelling out between $3 and $40 million for aircraft ordered at the air show.

It's not that execs are flying commercial -- the rough equivalent of trading in your Lamborghini for a used minivan full of crying babies -- but they are chartering flights instead of buying their own wings. Business jetsetters are turning more frequently to NetJets fractional ownership or a Marquis jet card, a kind of jet use debit card. Not exactly the Greyhound of the skies just yet, a Marquis jet card starts at $126,900 for 25 hours of flight time. And you won't have the joy of pimping out your cabin like that renowned Airbus A380, whose on-board hot tub and "desert oasis" tacked on an additional $150 million to the aircraft's pricetag.

And you thought a ticket for the first ride on an Airbus A380 was expensive, how would you like to have the bank account of the man rumored to have bought one? When it comes to the extravagances of Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich I'd be prepared to believe almost anything. After all, the multiple-yacht-owning soccer team owner is one of the world's flashiest spenders. But did he spend $300 million to buy the first Airbus A380 for personal use? I've seen a flurry of reports saying that the Chukotka governor and Chelsea FC owner bought the plane to add to his fleet which includes a Boeing-767 and a Boeing-737. A spokesperson for Abramovich says the story is not true. Airbus has neither confirmed nor denied the report yet.

For those patiently waiting for a ride aboard the massive double-decker Airbus 380, it seems like you are going to have to keep waiting. Airbus has said they are expecting new delays of at least six months. They still plan to deliver the first plane to Singapore Airlines but wiring problems with the A380 will mean that they will produce only nine planes next year instead of 27. The delays may force some companies to cancel their orders or lease other planes.