Aircraft

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.