Lufthansa Technik has launched a dedicated upgrade program for the Airbus ACJ318 Elite. In line with this, the company will offer a tailored suite of enhancements designed to refresh and modernize the cabin environment of the smallest VIP type in the European planemaker’s popular A320 family.
Lufthansa Technik’s VIP Center of Excellence in Hamburg will certify and deliver various modifications that bring the aircraft’s millennium-era interiors up to today’s highest standards. The portfolio will encompass both optical refurbishments and the latest technical upgrades.
The ACJ318 Elite’s original VIP cabins were already exclusively designed and fitted by Lufthansa Technik between 2007 and 2015. Its airliner-sized fuselage diameter enabled a considerably spacious interior with areas for dining, lounging and offices, as well as amenities like a private bath and bedroom.
While the Elite’s basic floor plan and cabin monuments were largely standardized to a 19-passenger layout, customers could choose from a broad variety of high-quality cabin materials. However, as expectations evolve and technology advances, Lufthansa Technik is now responding with a focused upgrade strategy that preserves the aircraft’s premium appeal while aligning it with today’s standards of luxury and connectivity.
To make the ACJ318 Elite future-proof and get it ready for many more years of smooth operation, the modernization work will encompass optical renewals, for example of wood veneers, carpets and upholstery. It can also include a replacement of the entire In-flight Entertainment (IFE) and onboard connectivity equipment.
The IFE can, for example, be upgraded with new high-definition screens, speakers and a modernized cabin management. Connectivity onboard can moreover benefit from the installation of a state-of-the-art Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satcom solution developed by Airbus Corporate Jets that lets passengers enjoy a much faster internet connection for office and entertainment applications.
“We are dedicated to providing cutting-edge solutions to meet our customers’ evolving needs,” said Chadi Saade, President of Airbus Corporate Jets. “We proudly collaborate with our partners on the ACJ318 Elite, ensuring that our customers benefit from the most advanced connectivity options, offering a new level in passenger experience and inflight connectivity with ACJ Connect Link which leverages Gogo Galileo’s Full Duplex terminal.”
“Even highest-quality aircraft such as the ACJ318 Elite are not fully immune against a decade of everyday wear and tear, and especially not against the extremely fast-paced development of new cabin and connectivity technology,” said Fabian Nagel, Vice President Sales, VIP & Special Aircraft Services at Lufthansa Technik.
“Therefore, we are honored to revive the successful ACJ318 Elite program. Our unmatched expertise in VIP interiors, which already went into every A318 Elite from the beginning, will now also be employed to extend the lifespan and enhance the value of these remarkable aircraft.”
About the ACJ318 Elite program:
The A318 Elite (later renamed ACJ318 Elite) is an Airbus Corporate Jetliner (ACJ) derivative of the smallest aircraft type within the Airbus A320 family. It was offered in the 2005 to 2013 time frame, in which 18 aircraft have been delivered to customers from Asia, Europe and the Middle East. The A318 Elite was unique in bringing the space and comfort previously only associated with larger jets to a much broader market. All aircraft of this type were fitted with an optimised cabin, designed and produced in co-operation with Lufthansa Technik. The aircraft have a range of more than 4,200 nm (7,800 km), allowing them to fly coast-to-coast within the USA, and to fly non-stop between London and New York.
About Lufthansa Technik:
The Lufthansa Technik Group is one of the leading providers of technical aircraft services in the world. Certified internationally as maintenance, production and design organization, the company employs more than 22,000 people in dozens of locations around the globe. Lufthansa Technik offers the full range of services for commercial, VIP and special mission aircraft. The portfolio includes maintenance, repair, overhaul and modification of airframes, engines, components and landing gears, as well as the manufacture of innovative cabin products and digital fleet support.
All images credited to Lufthansa Technik
