ACJneo family: the beginning of the story
For the first time, Airbus Сorporate Jets took the first representative of the newest ACJneo family to the air, thus opening a new page in its history. The plane, which is designed for the British business operator Acropolis Aviation, will immediately go to the Swiss TOiR AMAC Aerospace provider to install the interior, and after 12 months thereafter its commercial operation will begin. The second green ACJ320neo will be assembled at the end of this year. Deliveries of the first ACJ319neo for K5 Aviation will begin in the second quarter of 2019. The plane will arrive at the Fokker site in Woensdrecht in May 2019, and its transfer to the client is scheduled for early 2020.
“We have identified an interesting trend in the business VIP transportation market: when choosing an airplane, one of the decisive factors is the size of the passenger compartment. Here, ACJ aircraft are out of competition, offering the widest and spaciousest cabin in its class. These airliners will be the best solution when transporting government officials, company employees, a sports team, or family members, ”said ACJ President Benoit Deforge.
According to analysts, in the conditions of a complex economic background, upper-range aircraft become less attractive to customers. Nevertheless, it is clearly seen that Airbus is actively working in all regions and is gradually gaining customers on aircraft of the newest Neo family. Moreover, in Airbus Сorporate Jets itself they consider that the market of business jets of the premium segment is less influenced by economic factors than, for example, the market of business jets of smaller capacity. This is primarily due to the fact that potential customers of these aircraft - large corporations, government structures, billionaires - are less affected by the effects of economic downturns.
“We have identified an interesting trend in the business VIP transportation market: when choosing an airplane, one of the decisive factors is the size of the passenger compartment. Here, ACJ aircraft are out of competition, offering the widest and spaciousest cabin in its class. These airliners will be the best solution when transporting government officials, company employees, a sports team, or family members, ”said ACJ President Benoit Deforge.
According to analysts, in the conditions of a complex economic background, upper-range aircraft become less attractive to customers. Nevertheless, it is clearly seen that Airbus is actively working in all regions and is gradually gaining customers on aircraft of the newest Neo family. Moreover, in Airbus Сorporate Jets itself they consider that the market of business jets of the premium segment is less influenced by economic factors than, for example, the market of business jets of smaller capacity. This is primarily due to the fact that potential customers of these aircraft - large corporations, government structures, billionaires - are less affected by the effects of economic downturns.
By the way, despite the impressive, by the standards of business aviation, dimensions, the planes are equipped with built-in ladders, and thus the dependence on the airport infrastructure is significantly reduced. In the plane fit 360 suitcases. If the client relies on the super range and is willing to sacrifice part of the working space, then Airbus is ready to install additional fuel tanks that will “help” the aircraft to fly more than 15 hours, but that’s another story. Combined with the latest developments of Airbus Сorporate Jets, such as lightweight salons due to the increased use of carbon fiber and additional central fuel tanks installed in the cargo compartments of the ACJ320 family liners, the variety of Neo innovations is really impressive. Airbus Corporation Jets also took a fresh look at audiovisual solutions and communications. But, considering that Wi-Fi, large screens and powerful sound systems are all in the order of things in the elite salons of business jets, what else can you add? In 2016, the company began to offer better communication thanks to the latest Ka-band technology, as well as two Ku-bands. Most cabin concepts are equipped with 65-inch television screens, more than those used previously in Airbus business jets. They are also curved for the first time at Airbus Сorporate Jets.
“First of all, what is important for us is what the customers themselves say about our product, since it is always objective. So, recently one of our team members flew on ACJ along with the billionaire, his family and friends. During this trip, the billionaire has repeatedly noted that the flight on ACJ planes is more comfortable for him, because he can safely move around the cabin, communicate with friends, and at the same time everyone has enough space. This is possible due to the fact that the cabin of ACJ aircraft is larger and wider in its dimensions than the salons of competitors, which provides passengers with unlimited freedom of movement. In traditional business jets, passengers, as a rule, spend most of their time in their seats, because moving around the cabin is not very convenient. In fact, ACJ319neo has the same flight range, operating expenses as traditional business jets, while offering three times more spacious cabin with identical dimensions, ”- told in Airbus Сorporate Jets.
Now the company has ten orders for aircraft ACJ319neo and ACJ320neo. Among the customers of these aircraft are both new customers and those who are already ACJ operators. Two new customers have chosen ACJ319neo as an upgrade to their current traditional business jets.