ACJ blends in at Jetexpo

Airbus Corporate Jets (ACJ) is bringing an ACJ319 to the static display at this week’s Jetexpo at Vnukovo-3, near Moscow, Russia. In a recent study, the company revealed that China, the Middle East and Russia are its most prominent markets, as the combined number of billionaires in these respective countries recently surpassed the total number of billionaires in the US. Focusing on Russia, where the need for corporate travel is steadily increasing with an emphasis on long-range and large-cabin aircraft, the company’s portfolio is well-suited for the Russian market. In a recent issue, FlyCorporate sat down with former ACJ President Habib Fekih, who described the Russian market as a standard market in terms of sales operation. He considered the ACJ portfolio as a perfect fit, as all the aircraft of the ACJ family are already operating under the commercial flag – confirming that all respective ranges were and are still in demand. Of course, an emphasis on long to longer-range isn’t that surprising in a country with 11 time zones and a land mass of 17 million square miles. As of January 1, Benoit Defforge took over Airbus’s corporate jet division, replacing Fekih, but maintaining his position as head of ACJ’s cabin completions division, Airbus Corporate Jet Centre (ACJC). The ACJ319 that will be on the Jetexpo static has a range of 6,000 nm, capable of connecting virtually any city-pair in Russia and the surrounding CIS region without difficulties. The ACJ319 is operated by Schwechat, Austria-headquartered MJet and offers seating for 19 passengers in a cabin configuration that includes several lounge areas, a bedroom and adjacent bathroom. The company took delivery of the corporate airliner in February of this year. It is positioned in Eastern Europe and available for charter. Airbus COO Customers John Leahy refers to the ACJ as “the natural next step in the trend towards larger cabins, delivering more height, width and freedom of movement than any other business jet.”