Lufthansa Technik has launched a dedicated upgrade program for the Airbus ACJ318 Elite. The company will offer a tailored suite of enhancements designed to refresh and modernize the cabin environment of the smallest VIP type in the A320 family.
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Lufthansa Technik’s VIP Center of Excellence in Hamburg will certify and deliver various modifications that bring the aircraft’s millennium-era interiors up to today’s highest standards. The portfolio will encompass both optical refurbishments and latest technical upgrades.
The ACJ318 Elite’s original VIP cabins were already exclusively designed and fitted by Lufthansa Technik between 2007 and 2015. Its airliner-sized fuselage diameter enabled a considerably spacious interior with areas for dining, lounging and offices, as well as amenities like a private bath and bedroom. While the Elite’s basic floor plan and cabin monuments were largely standardized to a 19-passenger layout, customers could choose from a broad variety of high-quality cabin materials. However, as expectations evolve and technology advances, Lufthansa Technik is now responding with a focused upgrade strategy that preserves the aircraft’s premium appeal while aligning it with today’s standards of luxury and connectivity.
The modernization work scope of Lufthansa Technik’s experts will not only encompass optical renewals, for example of wood veneers, carpets and upholstery. It can also include a replacement of the entire In-flight Entertainment (IFE) and onboard connectivity equipment. The IFE can for example be upgraded with new high-definition screens, speakers and a modernized cabin management. Connectivity onboard can moreover benefit from the installation of a state-of-the-art Low Earth Orbit (LEO) SatCom solution developed by Airbus Corporate Jets that lets passengers enjoy a much faster internet connection for office and entertainment applications.
About the ACJ318 Elite program
The A318 Elite (later renamed ACJ318 Elite) is an Airbus Corporate Jetliner (ACJ) derivative of the smallest aircraft type within the Airbus A320 family. It was offered in the 2005 to 2013 time frame, in which 18 aircraft have been delivered to customers from Asia, Europe and the Middle East. The A318 Elite was unique in bringing the space and comfort previously only associated with larger jets to a much broader market. All aircraft of this type were fitted with an optimised cabin, designed and produced in co-operation with Lufthansa Technik. The aircraft have a range of more than 4,200 nm (7,800 km), allowing them to fly coast-to-coast within the USA, and to fly non-stop between London and New York.