Airbus Corporate Jetliner Outsells Boeing Business Jet
by ANN Associate Editor James Aronovsky
Airbus Vice President of Executive and Private Aviation Sales,
Richard Goana, is perhaps the one executive at Airbus who is
quite optimistic about his prospects.
The Airbus Commercial Jetliner (ACJ) is outselling its
Boeing Business Jet (BBJ) counterpart two to one in the highly
rarified world of business jets that are as big as
an airliner. Boeing has sold ten this year but Airbus
confirms selling twice that number. Goana hinted that he was
hoping to bring that total up to 22 before the end of the NBAA
convention.
Goana, along with several other Airbus officials, spoke Monday
at the press day preceeding the start of the NBAA Conference
in Orlando... and said that Airbus commercial sales are
skyrocketing due to what he says is the widest and most spacious
cabin available to customers and the greatest amount of
customization available.
The ACJ family consists of three variations of the Airbus A320.
The A318 Elite, the standard ACJ, and the A320 Prestige all share
the same cabin, which is seven inches wider than the Boeing
737- based BBJ. All are certified in the European 3B
autoland category.
To illustrate Airbus's commitment to the American market, the
French-German plane builder has named Gore Design Completion of San
Antonio, TX to be an approved completion center for Airbus
corporate jetliners and is the second US-based outfitter among
several world wide. Because of the highly personalized needs
of customers, the aircraft are flown "green" (without interiors)
usually to a completion center nearest the buyer, who can then
visit the aircraft and specify all the details as the interior
comes together.
In what may be the most amazing revelation of all, Goana
confirmed that he is in serious talks for an Airbus Corporate
Jetliner that is just a little bigger than the A320 family. The
often-delayed, giant superjumbo A380 is being considered as bizjet
for what he would only say is a head of state. Further questioning
only brought a sly smile.
Goana says that his research shows there is a market for
approximately 12 to 15 executive airliners a year, though he
admitted that this year was uncommonly good.
When pressed on exactly how many ACJ's he really wanted to sell,
Goana said, in his thick French accent, "I would be happy with any
number that is more than 50% of the market."
In the intense on-going Boeing/Airbus rivalry, that means Goana
is one very happy airplane salesman.