Airbus Corporate Jets could see its best sales performance in 17 years, with a total of eight orders and three commitments for its aircraft expected to lead to a best-ever full-year showing, the European manufacturer said at MEBAA 2024 on Monday.

“This year, we are at 11 orders and commitments. If they translate into firm orders by the end of the year, that will put us on track for a record [over the past] 17 years,” said Chadi Saade, who was appointed president of Airbus Corporate Jets in February. “This is an amazing achievement and great recognition from the market for Airbus and its products.”

However, given current market dynamics, the lead time to get an ACJ into service is anywhere between 2.5 and five years. “Actually, the trend is more into the four- to five-year [range] because of the demand," Saade explained. "If any of these customers wants to replace an aircraft before it reaches 20 years old, it's now that they need to make the decision.”

Strong traffic movements in the region have led to 30% growth in Middle East departures between 2019-23, Saade stated, citing aviation industry data provider WingX.

Middle East is Top ACJ Market

The Middle East is Airbus Corporate Jets’ most important region in the world, and Saade himself originally comes from Lebanon. He said there were a total of around 60 ACJs in the Middle East—of which around 20 are ACJ340s or ACJ330s. The region is the world’s leading arena for bizliners, with one third of the total global fleet, or 130 out of a total of 420 in-service ACJs and BBJs.

“What I can tell you is that our portfolio is divided quite evenly between governments, individuals, and corporates,” he told AIN. “And it's also the same here in the Middle East.”

Almost 50%, or 130 out of a total of 270 of the large jets in the region are ACJs— including the ACJ330neo and the ACJ350—or equivalents. The rest are ultra-long-range Gulfstream, Dassault, or Bombardier jets.

Airbus is honing its edge, as 110 of its large jets in the Middle East are aged 15 years or older, representing 40% of the fleet, and meaning that the region’s aging business jet base is poised for renewal. “We see strong sales potential in the region,” Saade said.

Airbus’ bizliner portfolio consists of the ACJ350, which can fly nonstop for 22-plus hours to any destination, with a range of more than 11,000 nm; the ACJ330neo, which offers performance of 21-plus flying hours and a range of 10,400 nm; the ACJ320neo; and the ACJ TwoTwenty.

Saade said two ACJ TwoTwentys had been delivered to date, one operated by Dubai-based Five Hotels and Resorts and the other by Comlux for an undisclosed customer.

Technology, reliability, and economics are key deciding factors for Middle East bizliner users, he said. “ACJs are very suited for the Middle Eastern market,” he said. “Customers also look for space, comfort and cargo capacity as major drivers behind their decisions, be they governmental or individuals.”

Saade added an update on sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) usage in ACJ operations. He said ACJs generated 23,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions in 2023, with 11 million liters of SAF used for operations, including flight tests, aircraft deliveries, or business travel. 

Unfortunately, Saade sees the problem with SAF as simpler than the solution. “There's not enough demand because there's not enough supply—and there's not enough supply because there's not enough demand,” he said.

ACJ’s global service center network involves five members in six locations--including two in Basel--offering MRO services, including aircraft line and base maintenance, as well as cabin refurbishments, completions, and system upgrades. 

These often involve third-party work done by Jet Aviation, Citadel Completions, Comlux, AMAC Aerospace, and Sabena Technic at centers in the U.S., Switzerland, France, and the UAE. However, Saade said that in certain cases when a customer did not want to have to deal with a third party, Airbus was able to carry out completions work of its own.