Airbus biz jets are now just a click away

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Acropolis Aviation, Airbus, Airbus Corporate Jets, AirX Charter, Aviation, Business Aircraft, Business Aviation, Business Travel, Constellation Aviation, EBAA, Emirates, Eva Air, Global Jet, iflyACJ.com, K5 Aviation, MasterJet, MJet, NBAA-BACE, News, Nomad Aviation, Toulouse, Tyrolean Jet Services

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Airbus has teamed up with 12 Airbus Corporate Jet operators worldwide to make VIP travel smooth.

Under a plan unveiled this week, Airbus jets can be chartered from any of the operators through the dedicated iflyACJ.com website.

The site was launched at the National Business Aviation Association’s Conference and Exhibition in Las Vegas.

“The new website will appeal to VIP travelers because it groups together in a single place information about the Airbus corporate jet offerings of 12 operators such as details of their spacious cabins, characteristics and tailored on-board services,” Airbus said.

“Its simplicity enables users to find details about each ACJ VIP charter offering in a single click.”

ACJ operator fleets include the ACJ318, ACJ319, ACJ320 and ACJ340.

“For the first time, we connect business jet travelers to ACJ operators – just click to book a unique flying experience,” said ACJ president Benoit Defforge.

The participating airlines are:

• Acropolis Aviation
• AirX Charter
• Comlux
• Constellation Aviation
• Emirates
• Eva Air
• Global Jet
• K5 Aviation
• MasterJet
• MJet
• Nomad Aviation
• Tyrolean Jet ServiceAll images are courtesy of Airbus Corporate Jets.

 

‘JetBook is the jewel in our crown’

Antonia Lukacinova: Experiencing HondaJet

The Czech high-flier behind the Sapphire Pegasus business aviation awards is now making headlines as the author of JetBook.

The latest edition of the luxury aircraft and helicopter guide will be unveiled at the European Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition, EBACE 2018, in Geneva next week ahead of its official release in summer.

“Aviation has always been a huge passion of mine, and JetBook is a book that helps the industry by making it easier to fulfill people’s dreams of owning a private jet or helicopter,” Antonia Lukacinova said.

“There is no other guide on the market that offers such a comprehensive overview of the industry today.”

The 232-page book features 55 business jets and 20 helicopters as well as exclusive photos and interviews.

“JetBook is the jewel in our crown. We intend to support it with a wealth of up-to-date articles and information about the latest aircraft, along with lifestyle articles in our upcoming JetBook Life series,” said Lukacinova, who has been working in business aviation in the Czech Republic since 2004.

She also founded the Sapphire Pegasus Awards, which honors outstanding performances by companies and individuals in business aviation.

This year’s awards will be announced at EBACE on Tuesday. The winners were chosen from 74 nominees via an online ballot by more than 60,000 voters.

Photos are courtesy of Media Tribune and Sapphire Pegasus.

EBACE static display to feature 55 aircraft

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Geneva hosts the European Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition, or EBACE, later this month.

One of the world’s biggest business aviation shows, it opens at Palexpo on May 29.

More than 400 exhibitors will showcase their latest products and services at the three-day event.

The static display will feature 55 aircraft. The organizers say 13,000 aviation professionals will attend the show.

Photo courtesy: EBACE, Palexpo

Ultra-fast Internet for Global business jets

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Airbus, Aircraft, Airlines, Airports, Aviation, Boeing, Bombardier, Business, Canada, Challenger 350, Embraer, Luxury Travel, News, Technology, Transport, Travel

Kurt Weidemeyer of Inmarsat, William Shatner, Jean-Christophe Gallagher of Bombardier Business Aircraft and Jack Jacobs of Honeywell at the announcement in Las Vegas.

Three companies are joining forces to offer what is being called the fastest Internet connectivity in business aviation.

Bombardier Business Aircraft said Tuesday that testing and validation for the service was nearing completion.

The Canadian aircraft manufacturer is partnering with Honeywell and Inmarsat to offer the so-called Wireless Access Virtually Everywhere, or WAVE, on its Global business jets from next year.

“Passengers can now stage a videoconference, browse the Internet or stream online shows high above land and water, as seamlessly as they would on the ground,” the company said on the opening day of the 2015 National Business Aviation Association conference and exhibition in Las Vegas.

“Bombardier is the first business aircraft manufacturer to make ultra-high-speed Wi-Fi services available in flight globally and the first to offer performance commitments for network availability and speed,” it said.

The service will be available on new Global 5000, Global 6000, Global 7000 and Global 8000 aircraft.

There will also be a retrofit option for Global Express, Global Express XRS, Global 5000 and Global 6000 aircraft.

“Our Global aircraft can link virtually any key city pair worldwide, non-stop, at close to the speed of sound, and the Bombardier WAVE system is intended to match this performance with its exceptional speed, promise of reliability and worldwide reach,” said David Coleal (left), president of Bombardier Business Aircraft.

“WAVE is a further example of how Bombardier is leading the industry in delivering the ultimate cabin experience to its customers.”

The system leverages Honeywell Aerospace’s JetWave hardware and Inmarsat’s JetConneX solution to deliver high-speed access, consistent performance and seamless coverage across the globe, Bombardier said.

“Our JetWave hardware, coupled with Inmarsat’s JetConneX solution, is ushering in a new era of connectivity in the skies,” said Kristin Slyker, vice-president at Honeywell Aerospace.

“The industry continues to demand better, more consistent and faster in-flight Wi-Fi to make the travel experience better and our next generation technology is leading the way to satisfy these demands.”

The images are courtesy of Bombardier, Honeywell and Inmarsat.

A thousand reasons to celebrate

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Airbus, Airbus Corporate Jets, Aircraft, Aviation, Boeing, Boeing Business Jets, Bombardier, Business, Business Aircraft, Business Aviation, Challenger 650, Embraer, Gulfstream, Luxury Travel, NBAA, NetJets, News, Transport, Travel

Bombardier’s 1,000th Challenger 600 series aircraft is set to enter into service this year …and that airplane will be the first Challenger 650, built for private aviation leader NetJets Inc.

Bombardier made the announcement as business aircraft manufacturers descended on Las Vegas for the 2015 National Business Aviation Association conference and exhibition.

The airplane will be on static display at the three-day show opening Tuesday.

Pat Gallagher (left) of NetJets with David Coleal of Bombardier in Las Vegas on Monday.

“Our collaboration with NetJets to create their Signature Series concept on our Challenger and Global platforms is evidence of what can be accomplished when two visionary industry leaders join forces,” said David Coleal, president of Bombardier Business Aircraft.

The aircraft is part of an original NetJets order announced in June 2012 for 100 Challenger aircraft with options for an additional 175, Bombardier said.

NetJets has also placed a firm order for 50 Global jets with options for an additional 70 aircraft in March 2011.

“The Challenger 650 aircraft will be a wonderful addition to our fleet,” said Pat Gallagher, NetJets’ executive vice-president of sales and marketing.

The airplane received certification from the Federal Aviation Administration and Transport Canada this month.

With a range of more than 7,400 kilometres, the aircraft can fly from London to New York, Dubai to London or Sao Paulo to Miami non-stop.

In other show news:

Embraer Executive Jets is forecasting a global demand for 9,100 new business jets, worth $259 billion, over the next 10 years.

“This is the total market opportunity to be serviced by all manufacturers and represents a Compound Annual Growth Rate of 3 per cent per year over the next 10 years, Embraer said.

“The analysis foresees that demand is likely to exceed the last decade’s deliveries and market value, when approximately 8,190 business jets were delivered, worth $198 billion.”

Earlier in the day, Boeing Business Jets announced orders for four new BBJ MAX 8 airplanes.

Three airplanes were ordered by an undisclosed customer based in the Middle East while one order came from an undisclosed customer in Asia, Boeing said.

Nearly 100 business aircraft will be on display at NBAA15, which has attracted more than 1,000 exhibitors from around the world.

Meanwhile, Cessna Aircraft Co. debuted its new Citation Longitude business jet.

It also announced plans to enter the large business jet category with the Citation Hemisphere.

“The Longitude and Hemisphere will join the Citation Latitude to complete a new, large-cabin, three-aircraft Citation family,” the company said.

Images are courtesy of Bombardier, NBAA, Embraer, Boeing and Cessna.

 

Billionaires ‘prefer Airbus business jets’

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The new ACJ319 Elegance

Airbus is predicting that it will sell 10 corporate jets this year as more billionaires are eager to take their lifestyles into the air.

“In the airline market, the customer is interested in economy. In the corporate jet market, that is not an issue for the customer,” said David Velupillai, marketing director at the European aircraft manufacturer’s corporate jet division.

Speaking from the Airbus headquarters in Toulouse, France, he said that a recent study commissioned by the company had provided some new insights into the billionaire lifestyle.

David Velupillai on board an ACJ318

Velupillai said a key finding was that billionaires in the Middle East love to travel with an entourage such as those looking after them and advising them on the ground.

That means they need a larger aircraft that will enable them to travel in comfort, which at present Airbus is best placed to provide, he said.

Airbus business jets can carry groups of between 19 and 50 people. Then, of course, there is the corporate version of the A380 superjumbo, which can carry 100 or more people.

A bedroom on the ACJ319 Elegance

Fly-by-wire is standard on all Airbus corporate jets, which are based on the modern family of Airbus aircraft and include the ACJ318, ACJ319, ACJ320 and ACJ321.

At the same time, Velupillai said, fly-by-wire is non-existent on many competitors’ jets.

“Recently I flew with a billionaire on an Airbus Corporate Jet and he was quite surprised by how comfortable the airplane was,” he said.

“He had never experienced such comfort and freedom of movement on an airplane before.”

Velupillai says that is because Airbus business jets are the widest and tallest in the market.

A new addition to the company’s product line is the new ACJ319 Elegance, an airplane which Velupillai said is easier and faster to outfit and which has generated a lot of buzz since its launch this April.

The lounge on the ACJ319 Elegance

The Elegance offers many innovations, including a modular approach which lets the customer choose from a wide range of seating and socializing options.

More than 170 Airbus business jets are currently in service around the world.

With the number of billionaires forecast to grow in Asia and the Middle East, Airbus is hopeful that the demand for its business jets will remain robust in the next few years.

By the way, if you want to buy one of these aircraft, it could take up to 20 months from order to delivery.

So be patient!

 

Flying Palace claims just ‘speculation’

Flashback: Alwaleed signs the A380 deal in 2007

Remember, the “Flying Palace” ordered in 2007 by Saudi billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal?

The A380, scheduled for delivery next year, was purported to undergo $200 million worth of cabin outfitting featuring multiple bedrooms, a theatre, a turkish bath and a garage for Rolls Royce cars.

“All these claims are speculation, with the airplane yet to be outfitted,” said Velupillai.

Alwaleed resold his superjumbo in late 2012 to an unidentified customer.

“That’s true, but I can’t reveal the identity of the buyer,” said Velupillai.

All images are courtesy of Airbus.