Airbus is announcing significant cabin enhancements to its ACJ318 corporate jet, including LED lighting, resculpted and restyled passenger seats, a media lounge, HD entertainment system and an optional shower in the aft lavatory. Wing sharklets will also be available on the aircraft, increasing its range to 4,350 nm from 4,200 nm.
Among the modular layouts available on the aircraft are an aft stateroom with either a divan convertible bed or a permanent double bed, a third lavatory for installation in the mid-cabin and a forward VIP/crew-rest lounge.
Other changes on the ACJ318 Enhanced include domed ceilings, window shades throughout the cabin, better humidification and soundproofing and new interior linings that allow better integration of overhead lights and gaspers. New cabin electronics available include iPod and iPad interfaces for entertainment and cabin management, Blu-ray player, HDMI interfaces for external equipment and a new passenger information system.
“The Airbus ACJ318 Enhanced’s cabin and efficiency improvements will help us deliver even more value to customers,” said John Leahy, COO for customers.
Airbus is offering the base aircraft for $68 million, a price that includes a turnkey interior completed in cooperation with Lufthansa Technik. Some 25 ACJ318s are currently in service, primarily with customers in the Middle East, Asia and Russia. Approximately 60 percent of ACJ318 customers opt to take their aircraft with completed interiors, as opposed to sending them to independent completion centers.
Airbus is displaying the slightly larger ACJ319 at the NBAA static display at Orlando Executive Airport. The ACJ319 was completed by Comlux, which also operates it on charters, and it is fitted with club seating, a conference/dining table, a lounge, two offices that convert into bedrooms and two bathrooms–one with a shower. Most of the individual seats berth into beds for overnight flights. The ACJ319 can fly non-stop throughout North America and one-stop throughout most of the rest of the world.
More than 170 ACJs are in service. Airbus previously announced that future single-aisle ACJs will be available with the more fuel-efficient CFM International Leap-X or Pratt & Whitney PW1100G engines of the neo series, for lower fuel burn, reduced emissions and noise and greater range.
