Luxo-Lengthy-Liner Will Seat 80

Aero-News learned Monday Airbus has delivered the first VIP version of its long-haul A340-600 -- which carries the distinction of being the world's longest airliner -- to the private business group SAAD Air Ltd of Saudi Arabia. SAAD is the first customer for the type.

The Airbus A340-600, which has yet to be outfitted with its VIP cabin, will seat around 80 passengers. It is powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 500 engines.

SAAD Air already flies an Airbus A320 Prestige (shown in formation with the new plane, above). The company is also in negotiations to double its fleet in the near future, with a wide range of aircraft types for its private aviation business with VIP clientele.

Airbus touts the most modern range of corporate jetliners, from the entry level A318 Elite through the Airbus corporate jetliner (ACJ), A320 Prestige and A330/A340 Prestige, all the way up to the A380 Flying Palace. The European planemaker is quick to note four engines give the A340 and A380 the freedom to overfly remote areas,with no extended range twin-engine operations (ETOPS) limitations.

Airbus' corporate jetliner family has garnered over 20 sales this year, setting a new record. Total sales of the A318 Elite, ACJ and A320 Prestige stand at around 80 aircraft, and there are over 40 Airbus widebodies now flying in corporate jet roles.

"If you want the ultimate in corporate jets, whether it is a more spacious cabin, a more modern design, or just the largest aircraft in its class, Airbus has the solution," says Airbus Chief Operating Officer Customers John Leahy. "Airbus aircraft have a reputation for giving airline passengers more comfort, and this is even more true in the executive cabins of the corporate jet world."

Like their airliner counterparts, Airbus corporate jets feature extensive use of weight-saving carbon-fiber composites, a common cockpit and fly-by-wire controls.

Airbus aircraft have won almost 7,000 orders worldwide to date, of which over 4,500 have been delivered. The company has approximately 350 customers and operators.

FMI: www.airbus.com