At airports around the world, hundreds of aircraft are retired to desert graveyards every year. Many are dismantled for parts; others are left to rust. What if these could get a second chance on the ground, reimagined as luxurious sanctuaries for travelers?

Boeing engineers insist they are confident in the long-term structural integrity of the 787’s composite fuselage, saying extensive testing and examination has shown that the fuselages retain durability far longer than most airlines will ever fly the jets.