Farnborough-based operator Acropolis Aviation placed the first order for the Airbus ACJneo yesterday here at the EBACE show. Acropolis CEO Jonathan Bousfield signed the contract with Airbus COO for customers John Leahy and Airbus Corporate Jets managing director Benoit Defforge.

The first order covers an ACJ320neo to be delivered in the fourth quarter of 2018 and outfitted for 19 passengers. Leahy revealed that there are two more unannounced orders for the ACJneo on the books.

Bousfield is “delighted and proud to be the launch customer for this new aircraft,” which was selected after an 18-month evaluation process. Acropolis has successfully flown G-NOAH, an ACJ319ceo (for “current engine option”), for five years on VIP charter operations, which the new aircraft will replace.

Operations with the ACJ320neo are expected to start in 2020, following cabin outfitting. The cabin design and choice of completion center have not been finalized yet, but the configuration is likely to be similar to that of G-NOAH. Neither has the powerplant been chosen–Acropolis is currently discussing powerplant options with the OEMs and will make a decision by the end of 2016. Initial airline operations with both CFM and Pratt & Whitney powerplants might help drive the selection.

Several criteria drove Acropolis’ selection of the ACJ320neo, not least of which was the extra cabin size versus the ACJ319ceo and the range capability, which will allow non-stop flights from London to Johannesburg, Los Angeles or Tokyo. Cat III autoland and 180-minute ETOPS are also important capabilities. Another factor is the commonality with the current ACJ319ceo, allowing a seamless transition for crews.

Airbus flew the first example of the A320neo next-generation single-aisle airliner on September 25 last year and currently has 3,794 orders. A319neo deliveries are scheduled to begin in the second half of 2017.

The new aircraft offers sharklets and new engines in the form of the CFM LEAP-1A or P&W Pure Power PW1100G-JM, making the aircraft 16 percent more fuel-efficient. Deliveries of PW-powered new-generation airliners are due to begin before the end of the year to Qatar Airways, and the first CFM-powered machine flew for the first time yesterday in Toulouse, with expected first deliveries in the first half of 2016. Further airliner development is expected to deliver the first A321neo with PW power in late 2016, followed by the CFM-powered aircraft in the first half of 2017.

Airbus Corporate Jets is initially offering the ACJ319neo and ACJ320neo, with both production slots for both versions becoming available from November 2018. There are currently no plans for an ACJ318neo, but an A321-based long-range aircraft is under discussion.

For corporate operators, the ACJneo adds significant improvements over the existing ACJceo models. Range of the ACJ319neo with eight passengers is 6,750 nm, compared with 6,000 nm for the ACJ319ceo. An ACJ320neo can fly more than 6,000 nm with 25 passengers, compared to a figure of 4,300 nm with eight passengers for the ACJ320ceo. This is a result of the installation of four additional center tanks (ACT) instead of two. Both new types could reach Los Angeles or Tokyo non-stop from Geneva.

Another improvement is a lower cabin altitude of better than 6,400 feet on average, providing beneficial effects for passenger comfort. The ACJneo also offers improved fuel/baggage combinations. Four-tank variants of both ACJ319neo and ACJ320neo retain baggage holds fore and aft, and in the case of the ACJ320neo offer a capacity of 650 cu ft, sufficient for 138 large suitcases.

Airbus has reconfigured the tank arrangement of the ACJ319neo when compared to the ACJ319ceo. The aftermost ACT has been moved further back in the aircraft so that a baggage hold becomes available between ACTs numbers 2 and 3, in line with the cargo door. Combining this new space with the forward hold offers 222 cu ft of baggage space in a four-tank fit, sufficient for 47 large cases. Alternatively, a fifth ACT can be installed in place of one of the holds.