Airbus Corporate Jets

VIP aircraft Airbus A330 of Qatar Amiri Flight taxiing on Zagreb airport

Airbus Corporate Jets, a business unit of Airbus SAS and part of the Airbus Group, markets and completes corporate jet variants from the parent's airliner range. Types include the A318 Elite to the double/triple-decked Airbus A380 Prestige. Following the entry of the 737 based Boeing Business Jet, Airbus joined the business jet market with the A319 Corporate Jet in 1997. Although the term Airbus Corporate jet was initially used only for the A319CJ, it is now often used for all models, including the VIP widebodies. As of December 2008, 121 corporate and private jets are operating, 164 aircraft have been ordered, including an A380 Prestige and 107 A320 family Corporate Jet.[1]

An Airbus Corporate Jet Centre is based at Toulouse, France and specialises in single-aisle aircraft.

Narrow-body aircraft

The ACJ family is based on the successful A320 family of aircraft and was based on the A319CJ. Today any version of the A320 is available as corporate jet with 180 minute ETOPS rating.[2] Changes over the passenger versions include an increase in service ceiling to 41,000 feet (12,000 m) and the use of a variable number of removable additional fuel tanks.[3]

Airbus ACJ318

The A318 Elite is based on the passenger A318. The smallest of the ACJ family, it is offered in passenger configurations between 14 and 18 passengers with a range of 4,050 nmi (7,500 km).

Airbus A319 Corporate Jetliner of Daimler AG Aviation. Early version.

Airbus ACJ319

This model is the corporate jet version of the A319. It incorporates removable extra fuel tanks which are installed in the cargo compartment, and an increased service ceiling of 12,000 m (41,000 ft) giving a range of 6,500 nautical miles (12,000 km). Upon resale the aircraft can be reconfigured as a standard A319 by removing its extra tanks, thus maximizing its resale value. Certificated both European JAA and American FAA, the A319LR and ACJ are the only business jets approved for public transport on both sides of the Atlantic.[4]

The aircraft seats between 19 and 50 passengers but may be outfitted by the customers into any configuration. DC Aviation, UB Group and Reliance Industries are among its users. The A319CJ competes with the Boeing BBJ1, Gulfstream G550, and Bombardier Global Express. Because of its wider fuselage diameter, it offers a roomier interior than its competitors. It is powered by the same engine types as the A320, either the CFM International CFM56-5 or the V2527.

The A319CJ was used by the Escadron de transport, d'entrainement et de calibration which is in charge of transportation for France's officials, and was also ordered by the Flugbereitschaft of the Luftwaffe for transportation of Germany's officials. Since 2003, an ACJ is a presidential aircraft of Armenia, Brazil, Italy, Venezuela, Thailand, Czech Republic, Turkey and Malaysia.

Airbus ACJ320

The A320 Prestige is offered as a variant for passengers who want more interior space than the A319 offers. It has a passenger capacity of 30 and a range of 4,950 nautical miles (9,170 km) with two removable fuel tanks.[5][6]

Airbus ACJ321

The A321 is the largest narrow body corporate jet with a full passenger range of 4,590 nautical miles (8,500 km).[7]

Wide-body aircraft

Egyptian Government A340

The VIP widebodies are based on the A330/A340/A350/A380 aircraft. Additional fuel tanks are expanding the range with most increase for the A330 Prestige.

Airbus ACJ330-200

The A330-200 Prestige offers space for 60 passengers with a range of 8,300 nmi (15,400 km).

Airbus ACJ340-300

Based on Airbus' first four engine design, the ETOPS immune A340-300 Prestige offers a 7,700 nmi (14,300 km) range for 75 passengers. It is powered by four CFM56-5C4/P engines, each rated at 151 kN thrust.

Airbus ACJ340-500

Was a longer range complement to the A340-300 Prestige, the A340-500 has a 10,000 nmi (18,500 km) range as a result of having a higher fuel capacity and an updated wing with increased span and area. It carries 75 passengers and can link almost any imaginable city pair on the globe. It is powered by four Rolls-Royce Trent 556 engines, each rated at 249 kN.

Airbus ACJ340-600

Was a version of the A340-600 with range increased to 8,500 nmi (15,700 km).

Airbus ACJ350 -800 -900 -1000

This new ultra-long range jet replaces the A330 and partly the A340, although it is limited as any other twinjets by extended twin-engined operations (ETOPS) regulations. Airbus is aiming to certify the A350 with 350min ETOPS capability upon service entry.[8]

Airbus ACJ380-800 "Flying Palace"

One executive variant of the Airbus A380 was ordered in 2012, with two full decks and a third deck in the cargo compartment,[9][10] but the aircraft was sold as a regular aircraft before modifications were made. Range was to be increased to 8,900 nmi (16,500 km). British tabloids said that the version ordered by Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal was to contain a conference room, a concert hall, a garage, wellness and steam room as well as a lift to enter the plane.[11] The undelivered plane was to be called "Prestige".[12][13] The Guardian reported the plane was sold amid disputes between Forbes and Talal around the size of his fortune and his efforts to affect his ranking in Forbes billionaires list.[14]

Orders, Deliveries, Operators - Governments, Executive and Private Jets

Breakdown by Aircraft A318 A319 A320 A321 A300 A310 A330-200 A330-300 A340-200/300 A340-500/600 A350-800 A350-900 A350-1000 A380 TOTAL
Orders 20 79 18 1 3 3 43 7 7 1 186
Deliveries 20 77 18 1 3 3 36 7 7 172
In Operation 18 67 21 22 38 13 7 186

Summary to 31 October 2015[15]

References

External links

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