The first Airbus ACJ320neo has been assembled on schedule, fitted with CFM International LEAP-1A engines and painted in ACJ house colours, in preparation for a first flight in the coming weeks.

After delivery to Acropolis Aviation of the UK in the last quarter of this year, the aircraft will enter outfitting at AMAC Aerospace in Basel, Switzerland, where an Alberto Pinto-designed cabin will be installed and it will be repainted in the customer's colours.

Like the airliner versions from which it is derived, the ACJ320neo family features new generation engines and Sharklets, saving around 15 per cent in fuel and delivering a leap forward in intercontinental range. The resulting ACJ320neo can fly 25 passengers 6,000 nm/11,100 km or 13 hours, enabling routes such as London to Beijing or Cape Town and Moscow to Los Angeles, while the ACJ319neo can fly eight passengers 6,700 nm/12,500 km or 15 hours.

Airbus says that the ACJ320neo family delivers similar operating costs and better residual value than other large business jets, while featuring one of the widest and tallest cabins.

Orders for the ACJ320neo family stand at nine aircraft, comprising three ACJ319neo and six ACJ320neo.