Airbus Corporate Jet Program Updates

Bill Carey Molly McMillin June 14, 2021
ACJ220

ACJ220 On Track For First Flight, Deliveries

Airbus Corporate Jets is on track for delivery of the new ACJ TwoTwenty (ACJ220) in the first quarter of 2023, the company said recently. Plans call for a first flight of the reconfigured Airbus A220-100 narrowbody airliner, formerly the Bombardier CSeries 100, by this winter. First cabin installation is expected to begin in 2022 at Comlux Completion in Indianapolis. Credit: Airbus Corporate Jets

ACJ220 lounge

A New Alternative

Airbus recently received the first fuselage section of the ACJ220 at its Mirabel, Canada, final assembly facility. ACJ launched the TwoTwenty program in 2020 with six orders. “The market sees this aircraft as a new alternative to other bizjets,” ACJ President Benoit Defforge said recently. “That’s exactly what it was designed to be. It’s opened ACJ to a much wider market.” The ACJ220 has a 5,650 nm intercontinental range, connecting cities such as Los Angeles and London. Credit: Airbus Corporate Jets

A Strong Year

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, ACJ had one of its strongest years in 2020, with 12 sales and six deliveries, including deliveries of two ACJ350 VIP widebodies, the company reports. This year, it’s delivered two ACJ320 narrowbodies and one ACJ350. It also has taken an order for an ACJ319neo. Credit: Airbus Corporate Jets

ACJ160 VIP Helicopter To Enter Service In 2021

Airbus Corporate Helicopters is completing flight tests of the first VIP-configured ACH160 twin-engine medium helicopter in Marseilles, France. It is expected to enter service in the U.S. this year, according to Frederic Lemos, head of Airbus Corporate Helicopters. Airbus Corporate Helicopters received EASA certification of the ACH160 in July 2020, but the pandemic delayed FAA certification. The helicopter features noise-reducing Blue Edge main rotor blades. Credit: Airbus Helicopters

ACH145 Popular With Yachting Set

ACJ has bookings for 62 helicopters, 10% less than in the past two years. In 2020, the division sold seven ACH145 light twin-engine helicopters, an aircraft proven popular with the yachting segment, the company says. Airbus owns 70% market share for helicopters sold for yachts and support vessels with helidecks, the company said recently. Credit: Airbus Helicopters

Airbus Corporate Jets is on track for delivery of its new ACJ TwoTwenty business jet, a reconfigured Airbus A220-100 airliner, in early 2023. Meanwhile, the Airbus division had a strong year in 2020, despite the pandemic. At the same time, Airbus Helicopters is busy with the VIP-configured ACH 160 medium helicopter.

Bill Carey

Based in Washington, DC, Bill covers avionics, air traffic management and aviation safety for Aviation Week. A former daily newspaper reporter, he has covered the commercial, business and military aviation segments as well as unmanned aircraft systems. Prior to joining Aviation Week in November 2017, he worked for Aviation International News and Avionics and Rotor & Wing magazines.

Molly McMillin

Molly McMillin, a 25-year aviation journalist, is managing editor of business aviation for the Aviation Week Network and editor-in-chief of The Weekly of Business Aviation, an Aviation Week market intelligence report.

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