IOC: 1988
Total Production: 6,307
Total Program's Cost: USD$200 billion
Airbus A318
IOC: 2003
Production: 152
Also Known As:
A318 Elite
Origin:France, Germany, United Kingdom
Contractor/s:
Airbus
Description:
The Airbus A320 is a single-aisle, twin-engine, narrow-body, short- to medium-range aircraft family with a seating capacity for 100-220 passengers. The aircraft family includes the Airbus A318, A319, A320 and A321 featuring high degree of commonality of all models and low operating costs. Wider seats and aisle are meant to provide higher comfort to A320 passengers.
The fuselage body layout of the A320 family of aircraft allows a greater cargo capacity with A319, A320 and A321 fitted out with a containerized automatic cargo loading system to ease cargo handling operations. The cargo handling system of A320 aircraft is fully compatible with the worldwide standard widebody system installed in larger aircraft. Moreover, the A320 family offers low fuel burn and noise emissions characteristics.
The A320 family of aircraft was launched in 1984 and the first A320 jetliner entered service in 1988. It can be powered by either CFM International CFM56-5A (A319 and A320), -5B (A318, A319, A320 and A321) or IAE V2500 engines. In addition, The Pratt & Whitney PW6000 turbofan will power the Airbus A318 jetliner from 2005.
The Airbus A318 is the latest member of the A320 family. It was launched in 1999 aimed at low-density, high-frequency flights market. It entered service in 2003 with Frontier Airlines in the United States carrying up to 107 passengers in a two-class layout over a range of 6,000 kilometers. In a single-class configuration, the A318 can accommodate up to 129 passengers.
The A318 can be powered by two CFMI CFM56-5B or, from 2005, two Pratt & Whitney PW6000 engines. These engines enable the A318 to fly routes ranging from 2,750 kilometers (1,500 nautical miles) to 6,000 kilometers (3,250 nm).
According to Boeing and Airbus forecasts, in the next 20 years airlines around the world will need some 2,000-3,000 aircraft in the Airbus A318, Tupolev Tu-334 and Boeing 717 category (domestic and regional markets) due to retirement of aging Boeing 737 and DC-9 jetliners.
Airbus A318 Elite is a variant of smallest airplane of the A320 aircraft family, the A318, developed to serve as an entry-level to the Airbus Corporate Jetliner (ACJ). A318 Elite has a comfortable and spacious cabin but the aircraft delivers less range and the cabin is shorter compared with the ACJ. Airbus and Lufthansa Technik will offer the A318 Elite in two variants seating up to 14 or 18 passengers with a projected maximum range of up to 4,000 nautical miles (7,400 kilometers). In late January 2006 Pratt & Whitney and Airbus signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to offer the PW6000 engine on the A318 Elite corporate jet.
On 15 June 2005, Egypt-based Air Cairo placed an order for six Airbus A318 airplanes with deliveries expected to begin in the third quarter of 2006. These aircraft will be configured to seat 120 passengers and will be powered by CFM56-5 engines.
On 8 July 2005, Iberia placed a firm order for 30 Airbus A320 jetliners powered by CFM56-5B engines and took options on another 49 airplanes. Deliveries were scheduled to commence in the second quarter of 2006. The firm order went for 10 A318s, 7 A319s, 10 A320s and 3 A321s.
Air France agreed with Airbus to purchase three A318 single-aisle aircraft in a single-class cabin configuration for 123 passengers on 28 September 2005. Deliveries were set to begin in 2006 with the three aircraft powered by CFM International CFM56 engines.
Chile's LAN Airlines signed an agreement on 25 firm order Airbus A320s plus 15 aircraft options October 11th, 2005. The aircraft to be delivered to LAN from 2006 include the A320, A318 and A319 airplanes. LAN's A318 will be the first of such aircraft to be powered by Pratt & Whitney PW6000 engines with the remaining aircraft models to be powered by IAE V2500-A5 engines.
On 10 November 2005 Zurich-based Comlux AG became the launch customer for Airbus A318 Elite business jetliner ordering three aircraft plus an Airbus Corporate Jetliner (ACJ). The ACJ was planned for delivery in May 2006 and the first A318 Elite delivery was scheduled for early 2007. Thereafter ComLux selected CFM56-5B engines to power its A318 Elite aircraft. The engines were valued at $36 million.
On 19 November 2005 Jeddah-based National Air Services (NAS) provider of VIP and executive air transport services placed a firm order for 5 Airbus A318 Elite and took an option on another 5 aircraft. First aircraft delivery was expected in the fourth quarter of 2006. Saudi Arabia's carrier was purchasing these aircraft primarily for nonstop routes between Middle East and Europe.
On 20 December 2005, an undisclosed multinational corporation ordered five Airbus A318 Elite business jets powered by CFM56-5 engines. Through December 2005 the number of firm order A318 received by Airbus was 13 with 8 aircraft options.
On May 17, 2006, VIP charter operator JETALLIANCE of Austria signed for an Airbus A318 Elite corporate business jet powered by CFM56-5B engines.
On 18 October 2006, US-based Petters Group Worldwide signed a purchase agreement with Airbus for one A318 Elite business jet to be managed by its subsidiary Petters Aviation.
On 17 October 2006, VIP charter operator JETALLIANCE of Austria placed an order for two more Airbus A318 Elite business jets.
On November 6, 2006, the Airbus A318 aircraft powered by CFM engines was approved by European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) for 180-minute Extended-Range Twin-Engine Operations (ETOPS). FAA is expected to grant the same certification in the first half of 2007.
Specifications Accommodation: Crew 2, Passengers 107
Dimensions: Height 12.8 m, Length 31.4 m, Wingspan 34 m
Weights: Max Weight 68,400 kg (150,794 lb), Min Weight 38,400 kg (84,656 lb), Payload 11,400 kg (25,132 lb)
Engine/s Performance: Thrust 47,600 lb (21,591 kg)
Performance: Max Range 6,000 km (3,240 nm), Top Speed 273 mps (Mach 0.82)
Austria / 5 
Brazil
Chile / 15 
Egypt
France
Romania
Saudi Arabia / 5 
Spain / 10 
Switzerland / 5 
United Arab Emirates / 2 
United Kingdom
United States of America
Six Airbus A318 Elite sold to Petters Group Worldwide.