Airbus to showcase personal jets to Gulf millionaires
Airbus Industrie will highlight its Airbus Corporate Jetliner (ACJ) range at the biennial Dubai airshow, promoting to the region’s high net-worth individuals, companies and governments the comfort and space a full-size airliner can bring to private travel.
One ACJ to be on display, based on a standard A320 airframe, is owned and operated by “VVIP” (very, very important people) charter company Comlux, based in Indianapolis, USA. The company specialises in “custom completions,” personalised design of interiors, and has been selected by Airbus to become a commercial partner and shareholder of the Airbus Corporate Jet Centre (ACJC), based at Toulouse in France.
Another will be an A318 Elite, operated by Abu Dhabi based Al Jaber Aviation (AJA), one of several VVIP charter jets operated by the company.
“Our Airbus ACJ Family aircraft will bring greater comfort and space to a broader Middle East market through VVIP charters,” says Dr Mark Pierotti, Chief Operating Officer of AJA, which will begin flying the first of these aircraft in the coming months. “Whether you want a cost-effective way to fly family or executives, to move a larger delegation than traditional business jets can handle, or just the comfort and peace of mind that you get in your own aircraft, AJA can provide it,” he adds.
AJA is the first Middle East-based operator to select Airbus ACJ Family aircraft for VVIP charters, and has already ordered four A318 Elites and two Airbus A320 ACJs.
“You enjoy comfort, space and privacy at home and, unlike smaller bizjets, you can take them with you when you fly in an Airbus corporate jet,” highlights Airbus Chief Operating Officer, Customers John Leahy. “Companies such as AJA are well placed to provide this unmatched space and comfort and, despite a challenging world economy, demand for top-end VVIP charters is holding up well,” he adds.
Large jets based on standard airline aircraft are becoming popular for the extra space they offer, and throughout the world there is at least one corporate jet representing every airliner model up to and including based on Boeing’s B747 and The Airbus A380.
The Airbus ACJ Family comprises the A318 Elite, ACJ and A320 Prestige, and is complemented by VIP versions of the company’s widebodies, which offer even more space and comfort, as well as “non-stop to the world” range. More than 160 Airbus corporate jets have been sold worldwide.
But there is still strong competition from manufacturers of the more “conventional” long-haul business jets such as Bombardier’s Global Express, the Gulfstream V and Dassault’s three-engined Falcon 900, all of which claim higher and un-cluttered cruising altitudes, higher cruising speeds and significant fuel economies than the larger airliner-based “flying palaces.”
*Image courtesy of www.canimgrumbum.com
