The Airbus Corporate Jetliner (ACJ) family has recorded its 100th sale, 10 years after the program was launched. Initially based on a single model, the A319-based ACJ, the family has expanded to include the larger A320-based Prestige, and the smaller A318 Elite.
These members of the ACJ family added extra fuel tanks in the cargo hold, increased thrust engines for better take off performance, and a higher, more efficient cruise altitude.
Airbus had an initial forecast for annual sales of just 12 aircraft a year in this top-end category, of which Airbus is expected to win about half, says John Leahy Airbus chief operating officer, customers.
But sales have exceeded these modest expectations by a considerable margin, and Airbus claim to have beaten rival Boeing in calendar year corporate jetliner sales every year since 2004. The company sold 20 ACJ family aircraft in 2006, and has sold 29 this year so far (in addition to seven VIP widebodies).
Source: Flight Daily News
