Airbus Corporate Jets, a business unit of Airbus SAS and part of Airbus, markets and completes corporate jet variants from the parent’s airliner range. Types include the A318 Elite to the double/triple-decked Airbus A380 Prestige. Following the entry of the 737 based Boeing Business Jet, Airbus joined the business jet market with the A319 Corporate Jet in 1997. Although the term Airbus Corporate jet was initially used only for the A319CJ, it is now often used for all models, including the VIP widebodies. As of June 2019, 213 corporate and private jets are operating; 222 aircraft have been ordered, including 128 A320 family jets. MRO Business Today discusses the future of luxury private flying through the “smart” technology while still being on the path of sustainability in an exclusive interview with Airbus Corporate Jet’s President, Benoit Defforge, READ ON…….
Q – The unique creative studio for business jet customers, it’s a wonderful and novel concept. Can you tell our readers the inspiration behind such a concept?
Ans – We have created this studio that is dedicated to ACJ customers and showcases a real-size section of the ACJ TwoTwenty cabin, offering double the space and volume of any competitor aircraft, so they can customize it to make it their own and experience/see/feel ‘first hand’ the space advantage brought by the ACJ TwoTwenty compared to other large bizjets in the mock-up that shows physically the cross section delta with competition. This new creative studio is offering a unique and unprecedented real time and immersive experience.
Customers can imagine and design their own luxury interior with the ACJ designers and technical specialists who will help guide and advise them along the visit.
ACJ TwoTwenty customers will be invited to explore their layout ideas, see them develop, adjust and review before immersing themselves in their perfect cabin.
With an integrated use of virtual reality technology complemented by configurable customer-specific mock-ups, all these assets available under one roof make the creative studio a unique and attractive one-stop-shop for interior design.
Q – The demand for customized jets has increased manifold post-pandemic, mostly due to privacy and safety concerns. Your views
Ans – The demand for private jet has increased indeed, but not specifically for customized ones
Q – How was the customer response to the new ACJ studio concept
Ans – Customers were delighted with the studio. Our clients were amazed by the fact that they could choose their interior, customize it, visualise it with the virtual reality technology and make it their own, bringing a near real feeling about what their jet could look like. The unique experience of the ACJ TwoTwenty is reflected with hundreds of soft natural fabrics, plush carpets, smooth wood veneers and plated metal finishings that our clients can choose on the spot. They have the chance to study the array of colours under different lighting before deciding their colour schemes for seating, carpets and walls or the wood effects and finishes for the handcrafted cabinets. They can also choose one of the three available cabin ambiances and one special Cyril Kongo edition configuration which are part of the signature cabin catalogue.
They also enjoy the cabin size comparison with competition, as well as the information the Creative studio format brings to them. After the visit, the clients appreciate being able to make a fully informed decision about why they go for an ACJ TwoTwenty and what are the benefits of this business jet.
Q – Can you throw some light on the technology used for lower weight and reducing the maintenance cost for Airbus ACJ TwoTwenty
Ans – The A220 incorporates 40% advanced materials, such as: advanced composite (wing, wing box, empennage, rear fuselage, stabilisers, nacelle) and titanium (wing, wing box, rear fuselage, horizontal stabiliser) for an exceptional strength to weight ratio, less corrosion and fatigue compared to metal and reduced maintenance and extended service life.
As a result of the design and advanced material, light check is only every year and base check every 6 years. These pushed back checks will bring ~40% lower maintenance tasks and 80 extra availability days’ vs large bizjets when compared over a 10 year horizon.
Like other ACJs, the ACJ TwoTwenty also benefits from more than 750 A220 in the order book, accumulated almost a million of flying experience, airline level reliability design, Airbus worldwide footprint and the economy of scale it brings, reducing parts and training unit costs.
Q – The most important and salient feature of ACJ TwoTwenty is Smart Cabin technology. How is the cabin different from the other competitive jets?
Ans – Connectivity is so important nowadays. Equipped with 2 times higher brandwise capability (up to 50 Mbps) and wifi throughout the cabin controlled at your fingertips, the ACJ TwoTwenty is a ‘born connected’ aircraft, bringing the best possible technology experience to passengers.
Inductive chargers, electrochromatic windows, LED lighting controlled with your smartphone are few other of the latest technologies which can be enjoyed with the ACJ TwoTwenty.
Q – Of all the customized designs so far for ACJ TwoTwenty what was the most challenging experience and which design was your personal favourite and why?
Ans – Our designers sometimes say that the project they are the most proud of is the next one on their list. However, ACJ had the chance to draw two major projects at the same time, an ACJ319 VVIP and the famous ACJ TwoTwenty project. The creative, economic, and industrial stakes were diametrically opposed.
Regarding the recent customizations of the TwoTwenty, I find it very exciting to make each cabin unique with the configurator we have imagined. The client’s cultural and personal variables are widely honored. And that’s probably my biggest satisfaction as president of ACJ.
Q – ACJ TwoTwenty boasts of the feel-at-home environment in a chic and calm atmosphere, can you tell us a bit about the amazing ambiance experience?
Ans – The ACJ TwoTwenty features unmatched personal space with 73m2/786 ft2 of floorspace, distributed over six wide VIP living areas of around 12m2/130ft2 each, the ACJ TwoTwenty offers selected interior arrangements and handcrafted furnishing. The cabin will allow passengers to unwind, perform, share, invigorate, dine or energise at their discretion thanks to its cabin versatility and options suiting their needs and taste.
Distinctive cabin features, no other business jets can offer, are notably: Six wide living areas (12m2 each): 2.1m height and over 3.3m cabin cross-section, cuisine/bar separate and dedicated area, a US-size king bed, standing rainshower, table for 8, double door allowing simultaneous crossing, 2.7m width and 1.3m long meridienne, 55inch 4K TV screen…These cabin features make our customers’ cabin experience unique and easily upscalable with the same features as they would have at home.
The ACJ TwoTwenty is reflected with hundreds of soft natural fabrics, plush carpets, smooth wood veneers and plated metal finishings. The array of colours under different lighting for seating, carpets and walls or the wood effects and finishes for the handcrafted cabinets makes it feel like a designer home. Also available are the three available cabin ambiances are part of the signature cabin catalogue.
Avant-garde: This ambiance reflects the purity of a modern approach with contrasting notes. An ensemble of materials balances the clean lines with subtle warmth. The resulting experience is akin to a stay in a loft apartment on the 5th Avenue.
The timeless ambiance makes you feel at home with your environment in an atmosphere that is both chic and calm. Embracing a spirit that is classic and spacious, infusing relaxation for whatever your destination may be.
The Quintessence nature ambiance is the holistic principle for this unique and organic approach. The soft materials and earthly tones encourage a sense of serenity to reimagine your place in the sky.
The special Cyril Kongo edition configuration notably in the main lounge, which will be partly hand painted by Cyril Kongo, combines carefully chosen branded textures and fabrics, crafted to kindle the sumptuous comfort, space and luxury of your own private art gallery.
The special cabin edition has been proudly curated to allow passengers to properly rest or enjoy fine dining with valued friends and family, while admiring all the colours that life has to offer.
While occupying the same parking space and being able to take off from the same airports as other business jets, the ACJ TwoTwenty will offer three times more cabin space, yet with a third less operating costs and around 2 times better value retention.
The ACJ TwoTwenty will have an increased range enabling the aircraft to fly up to 5,650 nm/10,500 km (over 12 flight hours), directly connecting city pairs like London and Los Angeles, Tokyo and Dubai as well as Beijing and Melbourne, benefitting the entire A220 Programme.
Q – Can you tell us a bit about the sustainability initiative in the latest ACJ TwoTwenty?
Ans – The ACJ TwoTwenty builds on the A220 Family, benefitting from the latest technologies; the A220 Family is the quietest, cleanest and most eco- friendly aircraft in its category. Featuring a 50% reduced noise footprint compared to previous generation aircraft, up to 25% lower fuel burn and 50% lower NOx emissions than industry standards, the A220 Family is a great aircraft for neighborhood airports. Being a clean-sheet design, the A220 offers unrivalled operational efficiency.
