Lufthansa Technik has launched a dedicated upgrade programme for the Airbus ACJ318 Elite, offering a tailored suite of enhancements to refresh and modernise the cabin environment of the smallest VIP type in the European planemaker’s A320 family. The company’s VIP centre in Hamburg will certify and deliver a range of modifications designed to bring the aircraft’s millennium-era interiors up to today's standards. The portfolio includes both optical refurbishments and the latest technical upgrades.

The original VIP cabins for the ACJ318 Elite were exclusively designed and fitted by Lufthansa Technik between 2007 and 2015. The airliner-sized fuselage diameter allowed for a spacious interior with areas for dining, lounging and office use, as well as a private bath and bedroom. Although the basic floor plan and cabin monuments were standardised for a 19-passenger layout, customers could choose from a wide range of cabin materials. As expectations and technology have evolved, Lufthansa Technik is now responding with an upgrade strategy that preserves the aircraft’s premium appeal while aligning it with today’s requirements for luxury and connectivity.

To prepare the ACJ318 Elite for continued operation and to future-proof it, the modernisation scope includes optical renewals of elements such as wood veneers, carpets and upholstery. The work can also incorporate a full replacement of the inflight entertainment and onboard connectivity systems. The IFE can be upgraded with new high-definition screens, speakers and a modernised cabin management system, while connectivity can be enhanced through the installation of Airbus Corporate Jets’ Low Earth Orbit satcom solution, enabling faster internet for office and entertainment use.

Chadi Saade, president of Airbus Corporate Jets, comments: “We proudly collaborate with our partners on the ACJ318 Elite, ensuring that our customers benefit from the most advanced connectivity options, offering a new level in passenger experience and inflight connectivity with ACJ Connect Link, which leverages Gogo Galileo's full duplex terminal.”

“Even the highest-quality aircraft such as the ACJ318 Elite are not fully immune against a decade of everyday wear and tear, and especially not against the extremely fast-paced development of new cabin and connectivity technology,” adds Fabian Nagel, vice president sales, VIP and special aircraft services at Lufthansa Technik. “Therefore, we are honoured to revive the successful ACJ318 Elite programme. Our unmatched expertise in VIP interiors, which already went into every A318 Elite from the beginning, will now also be employed to extend the lifespan and enhance the value of these remarkable aircraft.”

The A318 Elite, later renamed ACJ318 Elite, is the corporate jet variant of the smallest aircraft in the Airbus A320 family. Offered between 2005 and 2013, 18 aircraft were delivered to customers in Asia, Europe and the Middle East. The type was notable for bringing wide-cabin space and comfort, previously associated only with larger jets, to a broader market. All aircraft were fitted with an optimised cabin designed and produced with Lufthansa Technik. With a range of more than 4,200nm (7,800km), the aircraft can fly coast-to-coast within the USA and nonstop between London and New York.