Airbus A318 orders

Airbus has secured 26 orders and commitments for its $45 million A318 Elite, the executive version of the manufacturer’s baseline A318 twinjet, since the aircraft’s launch last November and plans to manufacture up to 10 of the 14- and 18-seat models, called the Elite and Elite+ respectively, each year. Launch customer Comlux took delivery of its first of three CFM International CFM56-5B-powered A318 Elites earlier this month, while the remaining two aircraft are scheduled for delivery in 2007 and 2008. Comlux also has an option for a further three Elites and is set to take delivery of a 19-seat A319 in May. Completions specialist Lufthansa Technik (LHT) is contracted by Airbus to provide standardised interiors for the Elite. Meanwhile, UK interior design consultancy Design Q has developed a contemporary interior for the A319 following its appointment last year by Hamburg, Germany-based LHT as part of its Project U interiors concept programme.

Paul Johnson

Paul Johnson is Editor of A Luxury Travel Blog and has worked in the travel industry for more than 30 years. He is Winner of the Innovations in Travel ‘Best Travel Influencer’ Award from WIRED magazine. In addition to other awards, the blog has also been voted “one of the world’s best travel blogs” and “best for luxury” by The Daily Telegraph.