Airline News
Business Aviation Digest
May 25th 2015
At last week’s European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition 2015 in Geneva, Qatar Executive, the business jet arm of Qatar Airways, inked a commitment for 30 Gulfstream G500s and G600s, as well as the G650ER. Read More » The G500 is expected to enter service in 2018, and the G600 is scheduled to follow twelve to 18 months later. Gulfstream’s backlog is reportedly valued at $13 billion. Qatar Airways Group chief executive, Akbar Al Baker, said the addition of the new aircraft would enable Qatar Executive “to widen the range of services available to [its] clients seeking bespoke and tailored travel services”.
Meanwhile, Airbus has launched the ACJneo Family, with Farnborough-based Acropolis Aviation the first to sign up for the first corporate jet version of the A320neo, valued at $125 million at current list prices, with a 19-seat custom interior. Delivery of Acropolis’ single ACJ320 is slated for fourth-quarter 2018, and entry into service is scheduled for fourth-quarter 2019, or first quarter 2020. Fitted with four auxiliary center or belly tanks, “sharklets” and new engines, the ACJneo boosts range to 6,000 nm, 43% more than Acropolis’ current ACJ319. “We will be able to fly London – Los Angeles, London – Tokyo or London – Johannesburg, plus London – Australia with one stop,” Acropolis chief, Jonathan Bousfield, noted.
In other news, Mercedes-Benz Style and Lufthansa Technik last week announced their cooperation on the design and completion of VIP short- and medium-haul aircraft cabins. In the coming months, the two companies will jointly evaluate the general level of customer interest on the VIP market, in addition to further developing the details of the design concept.
