In the battle for supremacy in the heady world of corporate jet, Mike Ashley, the Sports Direct tycoon, has stolen bragging rights from Sir Philip Green, owner of Topshop and BHS, with a £20 million swoop.

Mr Ashley, who has come in for stinging criticism since Sports Direct’s disastrous performance after floating on the Stock Exchange in March, has bought a Bombardier Global Express, one of the most luxurious models on the market.

The surprise purchase comes as demand for private jets has taken off. For the first time, manufacturers are poised to deliver more than 1,000 aircraft in 12 months to wealthy customers around the world this year. Honeywell, the US conglomerate, last month predicted that global deliveries would hit 12,000 over the next decade, representing nearly $200 billion (£98 billion) of business – far higher than its forecasts just two years ago.

Industry experts said that it was not just the super-rich turning their back on commercial airlines, but also the chief executives of companies across Britain. Seven customers at Air Partner, the private jet charter firm, have bought their own aircraft this year.

David Savile, Air Partner chief executive, said: “If I told you the names you wouldn’t recognise them. None of the seven feature on the Sunday Times Rich List. It is the next level down. Growth in this market at the moment is simply phenomenal.”

Mr Savile attributed the sharp rise in the number of orders for private jets to the preference for face-to-face business meetings and growing frustration with long-haul scheduled services.

He added that as customers get more used to hiring private jets from firms such as Air Partner or NetJets, the natural step is for them to buy one. One of the cheapest on the market, the six-seater Cessna Citation Mustang, costs £1.3 million.

Mr Savile said: “You shouldn’t fall into the trap of thinking this is about opulence. While there may be a bit of ‘mine is bigger than yours’, we’ve arguably moved beyond that. It is convenient, and the vast difference in the quality of service is enormous.”

Mr Ashley made nearly £1 billion by floating Sports Direct, home to the Sports World and Lillywhites chains, on the stock market and has already bought Newcastle United Football Club with the proceeds.

For £20 million, the reclusive 43-year old gets an ultra-long range private jet that can fly intercontinental distances - such as New York to Tokyo – without the need for refuelling.

The Gulfstream G550 owned by Sir Philip Green rivals the Bombardier Global Express in nearly every facet except length.

Yet both billionaires are trumped by Roman Abramovich, the Chelsea Football Club owner, who counts a modified Boeing 767, complete with two gyms, in his personal collection.

Last month he was reported to have upgraded by buying a $300 million Airbus A380 Superjumbo, a claim that his spokesman denied.

Bernie Ecclestone, the Formula One chief executive, owns two Falcon 2000s but is believed to be one of the 165 customers waiting for a $40 million Falcon7X, Dassualt’s newest jet in the corporate market and the model set to rival the Bombardier.

Mr Savile said: “If you judge desirability on waiting time then the Falcon7X is the one to have”.

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