The Airbus Corporate Jet Centre in Toulouse, France, has received its first two aircraft for cabin outfitting and expects to have invested $7 million by the time improvements are complete early next year.

The first two airplanes are from the Airbus Corporate Jetliner (ACJ) family and will be equipped with executive/VIP cabins for private owners.

The center opened for business in July and there are plans to build its capacity to three aircraft a year, all from the ACJ family. The facility represents an effort by Airbus to meet a growing demand for airplanes from the ACJ collection, consisting of the original ACJ, the shorter A318 Elite and the longer A320 Prestige.

An Airbus representative noted in a press conference here yesterday that the first available slots at some independent completion centers specializing in narrowbody bizliner outfitting are in 2009.

The jet center is located in the former EADS Sogerma facilities and brings together most of that company’s skilled workers and experienced cabin completion specialists under a new management team.

The improvements at the center include the addition of 16,150 sq ft of office space, a 2,690-sq-ft workshop and the tooling and installation of docks in a 70,000-sq-ft existing hangar. The initial phase of the improvements is scheduled for completion by the end of the year, with final completion in the first quarter of next year.