Summary

  • Airbus competes with Boeing in commercial aviation with models like the A320 and A380.
  • Airbus expanded into private jets, with ACJ offering converted airliners for VIPs.
  • ACJ offers a range of narrowbody and widebody business jets with unique customizations.

Airbus is one of the most notable aerospace companies in the world. The French company was founded in 1970, almost 54 years ago, and has always maintained a presence in the industry. It has manufactured helicopters like the H125, the H155, and the H215, and it has also manufactured military products. These military products include the legendary A400M Atlas, a turboprop-powered tactical transport aircraft.

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The European OEM also has a selection of private jets. Let’s take a look at four of them.

However, Airbus is most known for its involvement in the commercial aviation industry. Airbus has rivaled Boeing for producing the most commercial airliners in the world since it entered the industry in 1972. Airbus began producing the A300 in 1972, which was the first widebody aircraft that only utilized two engines. After the success of the A300, the company continued its involvement in the commercial aviation industry. This includes the production of the:

Airbus has continued to dominate the commercial sector over the years. However, in the late 1990s, its main competitor, Boeing, entered the private aviation market with the creation of a Boeing Business Jets business segment. This led to the creation of Airbus Corporate Jets (ACJ). Let’s take a closer look at ACJ’s recent history and some of the unique business jets that ACJ has procured over the years.

How ACJ began

As previously mentioned, Boeing was the first to enter the private aviation industry with commercial airliners. These were commercial airliners converted into business jets for high-net-worth individuals, governments, or large businesses. The converted airliners saw immediate success. Airbus responded with the development of a new business unit, which was later designated Airbus Corporate Jets (ACJ) in 1997.

front view of acj a330-900 on ground

Photo: Airbus

The first business jet that ACJ developed was the A319. It was originally designated the ACJ, but it was later changed to the ACJ319 once Airbus introduced several other business jets. Since the ACJ319 was introduced, Airbus has introduced additional narrowbody aircraft. Currently, any narrowbody jet that Airbus produces can be converted to a business jet. This conversion includes additional fuel tanks in the belly of the aircraft and other significant upgrades. Since ACJ began converting aircraft, nearly 150 narrowbody aircraft have been ordered, with several others converted from previously built commercial airliners.

Beyond the narrowbody offerings, ACJ began selling VIP widebody aircraft. These aircraft also include additional fuel tanks in the belly of each aircraft to extend their range. Other upgrades include reinforced structure, engine upgrades, or updated avionics systems. Nearly 90 widebody aircraft have been ordered over the years. The most popular widebody ACJ has been the A330-200, with nearly 70 orders.

Narrowbody aircraft offered

As previously mentioned, ACJ entered the industry with the introduction of the ACJ319. This aircraft incorporated removable fuel tanks and a higher service ceiling. The tanks can be removed to allow the aircraft to be converted back to a commercial airliner if resold. It is considered the most successful ACJ aircraft, as 77 total have been delivered over the years. The company also recently introduced the ACJ319neo as a replacement for the ACJ319.

ACJ’s smallest aircraft is the ACJ318, which is typically only sold in configurations that can fit 14 or 18 passengers. However, 20 of these aircraft are still operating, although the A318 is no longer in production.

Private Airbus A319neo Taking Off

Photo: Airbus

Slightly larger than the ACJ319 family is the ACJ320 family. Currently, ACJ only produces the ACJ320neo, which has been ordered less than ten times, as the A320neo replaced the A320 in 2021. Previously, the ACJ320 was purchased twenty times.

The most recent ACJ variant is the ACJ TwoTwenty, a variant of the A220-100 first introduced in 2023. ACJ builds this business jet before flying to Comlux in Indianapolis, Indiana, where it is fitted with a fully customizable interior.

Below are the specifications for currently produced ACJ variants:

Specification

ACJ TwoTwenty

ACJ319neo

ACJ320neo

Capacity

18 passengers

Eight passengers

25 passengers

Length

114 feet ten inches

111 feet

123 feet three inches

Wingspan

115 feet two inches

117 feet five inches

117 feet five inches

Height

37 feet nine inches

38 feet seven inches

38 feet seven inches

Maximum takeoff weight (MTOW)

139,110 pounds

172,000 pounds

174,200 pounds

Max speed

470 knots (541 miles per hour)

470 knots (541 miles per hour)

470 knots (541 miles per hour)

Range

5,650 nautical miles (6,500 miles)

6,750 nautical miles (7,768 miles)

6,000 nautical miles (6,905 miles)

Flight ceiling

41,000 feet

41,000 feet

41,000 feet

Widebody aircraft offered

Historically, ACJ has sold several converted widebody commercial airliners as business jets. The most popular widebody ACJ is the ACJ330, which is based on the A330-200. Nearly 70 have been ordered, and over 60 are in operation already. Recently, Airbus decided to upgrade its ACJ330 model by introducing the ACJ330neo, although it has yet to receive any orders.

Sky Prime Airbus A330-200 Prestige (HZ-SKY2) private jet

Photo: viper-zero | Shutterstock

Beyond the ACJ330, Airbus also offers some of its larger airliners as corporate jets. Based on its successful commercial family, the Airbus A340, the company offered three different ACJ340 variants. The plane that Airbus may be most known for, the Airbus A380, has yet to see an official conversion into a business jet. Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal ordered an ACJ380, but it was sold as a commercial airliner before ever being delivered.

Currently, ACJ only advertises two widebody business jets. They have the following specifications:

Specification

ACJ330neo

ACJ350

Capacity

25 passengers

25 passengers

Length

191.5 feet

219 feet

Wingspan

198 feet

212.4 feet

Height

58.2 feet

55.9 feet

Maximum takeoff weight (MTOW)

534,000 pounds

620,000 pounds

Max speed

493 knots (567 miles per hour)

511 knots (588 miles per hour)

Range

10,050 nautical miles (11,565 miles)

11,000 nautical miles (12,659 miles)

Flight ceiling

41,000 feet

43,000 feet


  • rsz_airbus_50th_years_anniversary_formation_flight_-_air_to_air

    Airbus

    Stock Code:
    AIR

    Date Founded:
    1970-12-18

    CEO:
    Guillaume Faury

    Headquarters Location:
    Toulouse, France

    Key Product Lines:
    Airbus A220, Airbus A320, Airbus A330, Airbus A340, Airbus A350, Airbus A380

    Business Type:
    Planemaker

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