Austrian business aircraft owners have developed a taste for Airbus corporate models, with two companies placing orders in quick succession. JetAlliance has ordered an A318 Elite and an ACJ, and the Stumpf Group has ordered an ACJ.

JetAlliance Holding ceo Lukas Lichtner-Hoyer, said: "For us the order of two Airbuses is this year's highlight so far. The A318 and the ACJ will be the most spacious aircraft in our fleet.

"Our customers demand privacy and want the best service that money can buy. These aircraft will give our customers the ultimate in comfort and privacy due to their separated comfort zones," he said.

JetAlliance has a fleet of almost 40 aircraft with an average age of 3.5 years. It is involved in aircraft management, financing and asset management as well as charter.

The Stumpf Group specialises in industrial and real estate investments. Owner Georg Stumpf says: "As our business grows increasingly global, the Airbus ACJ will give us unparalled space in which to fly while maximising productivity and comfort."

The group's real estate develop-ment arm has developed Europe's third-tallest office building, the 50-storey Millennium Tower in the city

of Vienna.

JetAlliance and Stumpf say that, among the ACJ's attractive features, are fuel-saving wingtip fences, cost-saving centralised maintenance and weight-saving composites.

The Airbus ACJ family consists of the A318, the ACJ and the A320 Prestige. Airbus says more than 70 have been sold.

David Velupillai, a product marketing manager at Airbus, says: "The market is worldwide but most of our sales so far are in Europe and the Middle East."

Global sales total around 70. Twinjet Aircraft is taking delivery of a new ACJ (full story on page 3).

Zurich-based Comlux Aviation has placed an order for three of the 4,000nm A318 Elites.

In tandem with growing sales, Airbus is developing its access to airports in Europe. It undertook A318 airport compatibility tests at London City Airport in May.

Airbus says the A318 will allow operators to offer new, longer distance routes to new markets such as Rome, Madrid and eastern Europe. Velupillai says: "The A318 Elite corporate jet version could operate even further afield."

Richard Gooding, md of London City Airport: "Carrying 107 passengers the A318 will help secure the long-term development of the airport which is expected to quadruple in throughput over the next 25 years."