On 6 January, Comlux took delivery of the world's first ACJ220, or ACJ TwoTwenty as Airbus calls it fashionably. The aircraft, 9H-FIVE (50062) will now undergo cabin installation at the company's facility at Indianapolis (IN) and will be ready for use in 2023. Comlux has announced it will operate the aircraft for the FIVE Hotel in Dubai.
Comlux is the launch customer of Airbus' newest corporate jet and has announced an order for two aircraft. The company also signed an agreement with Airbus that it will be the exclusive cabin outfitter for the first fifteen ACJ220s.
The ACJ TwoTwenty is based on the A220-100 and will be able to fly up to eighteen passengers very comfortably over a maximum distance of 10,500 km, which is just over twelve flying hours. This means the jet can connect cities as London with Los Angeles (CA) or Dubai with Tokyo.
The very first Airbus A220-based private jet has been spotted as it rolls out of the paintshop in a basic Airbus livery. The aircraft is set to take its first flight in the next couple of weeks, after which time it will head off to Comlux Completion in Indiana to have its luxury interior fitted. The jet is already sold to a luxury hotel group based in Dubai.
First glimpse of the ACJ TwoTwenty
Yesterday, Airbus gave the world its first glimpse of the completed private jet based on the popular A220 product. The ACJ TwoTwenty was seen rolling out of the paintshop in Mirabel, Canada, wearing the Airbus house livery for now. The aircraft is sporting test registration C-FTWU, and close inspection reveals an ‘operated by Comlux’ decal just about the forward windows.
This TwoTwenty already has a home to go to, although it won’t be heading there right away. During the Dubai Air Show, it was announced that luxury hotel group FIVE has bought the plane for the purposes of transporting its discerning guests between its various destinations. The hotel group is expecting delivery of this first aircraft in 2023.
Before that can happen, the ACJ TwoTwenty will need to take its proving flights, and will need to spend some time having its stunning interior outfitted by Comlux. Once it is complete, the aircraft will fly under registration 9H-FIVE (Nine-Hotel-Five) and will be operated by Comlux on behalf of the hotel.
Based on the A220-100, the TwoTwenty is one of the largest business jets on the market. Its auxiliary fuel tanks give it the legs to stay in the air for 12 hours or more, making it possible to fly direct between Tokyo and Dubai, or London and LA. FIVE will be able to shuttle up to 18 passengers between its hotels on the plane, flights which will come with lavish catering, in house DJs and FIVE’s unique party atmosphere.
FIVE is planning a rather awesome interior. Photo: Comlux
Off to Indiana for Christmas
Comlux advised Simple Flying that the first flight for the ACJ TwoTwenty will take place in early December. After that, it will take a ferry flight to Indianapolis where it will be completed by the firm. It will be a Christmas gift and a half for the workers in Indiana keenly waiting to start work on its glamorous interior.
Comlux Completion opened its Indiana facility in 2012, and invested to extend it in 2016 so that it could accommodate widebody aircraft for VIP completions. In all, the facilities in Indianapolis boast 157,000 ft2 / 14,600 m2 of space, enough to house one widebody and six narrowbody aircraft all at the same time.
It’s the only completion center in the world to integrate every aspect of VIP jet completion under one roof. From here, Comlux will be able to install electrics, mechanical systems, cabinetry, and upholstery as well as making any changes to avionics and completing certification ready for it to leave the facility.
Comlux has placed a firm order for two ACJ TwoTwenty aircraft, and is the launch customer of this new VIP jet. As part of the deal, Comlux will be the exclusive outfitter for the first 15 ACJ TwoTwenty models, letting the firm flex its well-honed talents in creating exceptional private jet finishes.
Luxury Dubai Hotel FIVE Named As Launch ACJ220 Customer
Dubai-based luxury hotel group FIVE has been revealed as the launch customer of the Airbus A220 private jet, dubbed the ACJ TwoTwenty. FIVE will take delivery of the very first ACJ TwoTwenty in 2023, and will use it to shuttle its discerning guests between its growing portfolio of properties and around the world.
The first customer for the ACJ220 has been revealed as Dubai-based luxury hotel brand FIVE. Photo: Comlux
First ACJ TwoTwenty to become charter plane for hotel group
The first customer for the ACJ TwoTwenty has been revealed as FIVE, a luxurious and fast-growing hotel group with its home in Dubai. The aircraft will be registered 9H-FIVE (and pronounced Nine Hotel Five) and will enter service for the brand in 2023.
The jet will feature a lavish interior. Photo: Comlux
The ACJ is being fitted out by luxury interior experts Comlux Completion, starting in January 2022. Among the features planned for the first TwoTwenty are 16 seats, a dining table for eight, and a master suite with king size bed and shower. The jet will use electro-chromatic window shades, like the Dreamliner windows, and will provide non-stop high-speed internet connectivity. Also onboard will be two ultra-large 55-inch screens, full LED lighting and a full kitchen galley.
The TwoTwenty will be capable of flying for 12 hours nonstop, opening an incredible range of destinations from FIVE’s home in Dubai. The jet will be operated by Comlux Aviation, under the Swiss firm’s AOC in Malta, although the two flight attendants onboard will be from FIVE’s own staff. FIVE will take delivery of the very first ACJ220 to roll off the production line, and aircraft that Airbus began constructing in May this year.
The jet is targeted at FIVE’s exclusive clientele. Photo: Comlux
Simple Flying caught up with charismatic businessman Kabir Mulchandani, Founder and Chairman of FIVE, to find out more about his plans with the aircraft. The CEO met us at a champagne and caviar laden reception at his hotel on the Palm in Dubai, where Comlux had cleverly transformed a basic office into a sky high party space using LED lights. Interestingly, the space in which FIVE’s guests were received was precisely the same width as the interior of the TwoTwenty.
The office space was transformed into a unique party venue by Comlux. Photo: Joanna Bailey | Simple FlyingThere was even an ACJ TwoTwenty cake! Photo: Joanna Bailey | Simple Flying
Upsizing his fleet
At present, Mulchandani has a Global private plane for his own use, so it’s a pretty big step up to go from operating this to running a large regional jet like the A220. He explained his thoughts behind buying the plane, noting,
From the cabin renderings, it’s clear to see the high class, party atmosphere Mulchandani is intending to create for his guests. Onboard, he will embrace multi use spaces, where coffee tables can extend to become dining spaces, or can be taken away to create large dancefloors. Onboard DJs will provide the entertainment, while his renowned chefs will bring the most luxurious meals and snacks to those he shuttles around between his properties.
Speaking about the ACJ TwoTwenty in comparison with other popular bizjets, he said,
“It has a lot more space and with a lot less direct operating cost. Yes, it is more money, but when you look at the long term cost of ownership over 10 years, the difference is minuscule. But given how much more aircraft you get and what we can do with it in terms of what we can do for ourselves what we can do for our brand, it’s a great deal.”
What will the ACJ TwoTwenty be used for?
While Mulchandani will undoubtedly be enjoying the luxurious surroundings of the TwoTwenty for his own private trips, he also intends to shuttle passengers between his growing portfolio of properties too. FIVE has two operational hotels right now but is in the process of opening another two, one next year and one the year after. Mulchandani notes that he is also in negotiations for the acquisition of properties in Europe.
He envisions guests enjoying the fresh air of Zurich for a couple of days, then jetting off on 9H-FIVE to Dubai to soak up the sun. The ultra-luxury brand has its sights on further expansion in the future, and the ACJ TwoTwenty offers a future-proofed solution regardless of where FIVE puts its roots down in the future.
“With this aircraft [Airbus has] guaranteed us a 12 hour flight, they have guaranteed us London to San Francisco, so that’s against the winds. And that guarantees Dubai to anywhere in Africa, anywhere in Europe, anywhere in Asia. From where we are based, we can hit Reykjavik, Cape Town, Tokyo, where we’ve covered our customer base.”
Mulchandani isn’t writing off the idea of adding more ACJ TwoTwentys in the future. When asked if he wanted to be an airline CEO as well as a hotel CEO, he commented,
“I definitely have the desire to work in spaces that I love. I love hotels. I love aviation. Do I have that desire? Absolutely. Will it be a commercial success? I’m not sure. Do I care? Not really. I’m loving this, it’s so much fun, and I’m just really super privileged to be in a position to do it.”
In terms of price, guests of FIVE who intend to enjoy the lavish surroundings of the TwoTwenty can expect to shell out around $10,000 for the privilege. That, Mulchandani says, is an ‘affordable’ price point, slightly more than first class but much more private and exclusive. While it might be an eyewatering figure for the man on the street, the hotel CEO says that the types of guests he hosts in his facilities typically spend more than that on champagne during their stays!
Airbus has today unveiled a beautiful business jet, based on the frame of the popular A220. Called the ACJ TwoTwenty business jet, the aircraft has broken the boundaries for a new market segment that Airbus defines as the “Xtra Large Bizjet.” It’s a state of the art dream machine with a stunning interior to match.
Airbus has revealed a beautiful new entrant to the corporate jet market. Photo: Airbus Corporate Jets
Welcome to the ACJ TwoTwenty
For most of us, getting a seat in a business jet is an experience we can only dream about. But for the elite, these aircraft are all part and parcel of the millionaire lifestyle. Now, there’s a new toy that’s set to throw shade on every other plane on the apron, as Airbus has unveiled a stunning addition to its lineup.
The new business jet from Airbus is a ‘clean sheet design’, based on the popular A220-100. The A220 has fast become the must-have narrowbody jet, combining passenger pleasing comfort and quietness with airline beneficial economies of operation. Now available as a business jet, it’s set to take the private flying market by storm.
Benoit Defforge, the President of ACJ, commented in a statement,
“We are proud to extend the ACJ product Family with the launch of the ACJ TwoTwenty. The aircraft combines intercontinental range, unmatched personal space and comfort for all passengers. This latest technology platform is offering unbeatable economics and unrivalled reliability. Based on its compelling market appeal, we see a promising demand for this aircraft in the growing business jet market.”
The new jet can fly for more than 12 hours. Photo: Airbus Corporate Jets
According to Airbus, the ACJ TwoTwenty has the same requirements as other competing aircraft, in terms of parking spaces and airport runways. That means it can use all the typical facilities of the bizjet market, but with three times in the interior space, and a one-third lower operating cost than its competitors.
Most impressively, the design and high efficiency of the A220 inspired business jet gives it an incredible range of more than 10,000 km. Airbus says it can fly for 10,500 km / 5,600 nmi, allowing it to fly nonstop for 12 hours or more.
What’s inside the ACJ TwoTwenty?
That, as they say, is up to you. While Airbus has presented an example of how the interior could look, the aircraft is being offered with a flexible cabin catalog, allowing its new owners to specify their own configuration for the jet.
There’s space for 18 to work, eat and sleep. Photo: Airbus Corporate Jets
Included as standard on the new bizjet is Airbus’ inimitable LED mood lighting, as well as the latest electro-chromatic windows. It will also have two times better connectivity than its competitors and WiFi system across the entire cabin.
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Buyers can be assured of an unrivaled level of space inside the aircraft, thanks to its epic floor space of 73m²/785 ft². This is split into six VIP living areas, available for configuration to suit the needs of the owner. Airbus says that the jet can comfortably accommodate up to 18 passengers onboard, with space to work, dine, relax and sleep as required.
Comlux is the exclusive supplier of cabin interiors for the first 15. Photo: Airbus Corporate Jets
Working in partnership with Airbus on the project is Comlux, an ACJ-approved supplier with a completion center in Indianapolis. The company has been outfitting and upgrading VIP interiors for many years and has been selected as the exclusive supplier of interiors for the first 15 cabins of the ACJ TwoTwenty.
Comlux The Aviation Group has announced a firm order for three Airbus ACJ320neo aircraft, becoming the largest customer for Airbus’ new corporate jet family. The order also consolidates Comlux’s leadership in Airbus corporate jet deals, with more to its credit than any other client.
Deliveries of the aircraft begin at the end of 2018. Comlux has chosen CFM International LEAP-1A engines to power the aircraft. Cabin outfitting will be by Comlux America, in Indianapolis, the first independent authorised Airbus corporate jet service centre.
“Comlux is proud to add to its order book the ACJ320neo which, with its new CFMI engines, Sharklets and increased fuel-capacity, brings the extra range that our VVIP clients seek - without compromising on baggage space,” says Comlux Group President and CEO Richard Gaona. “With its completion facilities in America, Comlux is well placed to offer its customers unique cabin solutions.”
“Comlux’s long-established and wide-range of activities - including aircraft management, VVIP charter, and cabin outfitting and services - means that it was well placed to evaluate the new Airbus ACJ320neo Family before making it an important part of its fleet,” declares Airbus Chief Operating Officer, Customers John Leahy.
Comlux has ordered corporate jet versions of all of the ACJ320 Family, and was the first to operate the Airbus ACJ318 and ACJ321.
Airbus’ ACJneo Family combines new fuel-saving engines, wingtip-mounted Sharklets and other improvements to give customers better fuel efficiency, greater range and a more modern product in which to invest – as well as the widest and tallest business-jet cabin in the sky.
The Airbus ACJ320neo can fly 25 passengers over 6,000 nm/11,100 km or 13 hours, while the ACJ319neo can transport 8 passengers over 6,750 nm/12,500 km or 15 hours.
Airbus’ ACJneo Family is the only new, top-of-the-line, corporate jet offering the increased protection of fly-by-wire controls, Category 3B automatic landing, and runway overrun prevention and onboard airport navigation systems (ROPS and OANS).
More than 170 Airbus corporate jets are flying on every continent, including Antarctica, demonstrating outstanding reliability that is backed by unmatched worldwide support.
Comlux has taken delivery of the first Airbus ACJ321, the newest private jet from the world’s most modern aircraft family, which means that it will become the first to have operated every corporate Airbus A320 Family version.
The Airbus ACJ321 is now being outfitted with VVIP cabin by Comlux America in Indianapolis, and is due to be completed in 2014. Like the Airbus ACJ318, ACJ319 and ACJ320, the ACJ321 will have the widest and tallest cabin of any business jet and, because of its stretched fuselage, it will also have the longest. Additional centre tanks will also give the ACJ321 extra range.
“Comlux has established a reputation that is synonymous with comfort and luxury, and the Airbus ACJ321 will enable us to offer our customers even more of that in the air,” says Comlux, The Aviation Group President & CEO Richard Gaona. “We have operated the Airbus ACJ318, ACJ319 and ACJ320, so the ACJ321 brings a new dimension to our fleet while also being an easy addition, because of its cockpit and maintenance commonality. This is an important year for Comlux because we are celebrating our 10th anniversary. We started to operate the ACJ Family in 2006 and to date we have flown more than 15,000 charter hours on our Airbus fleet. This record is a great achievement for a private jet operator and shows the sustainability of Comlux in the large-cabin business aviation market."
Comlux was an early Airbus private jet customer, was the first to operate the Airbus ACJ318, and its fleet now includes five Airbus corporate jets. It operates all of its Airbus fleet to the highest standards, including 180 min extended range twin-engine operations (ETOPS) and Category 3B autoland.
Whether you travel on business or are in the business of travel, you want to take comfort and space into the air and, with the widest, tallest and longest cabins in the sky, you get more of that with Airbus corporate jets,” enthuses Airbus Chief Operating Officer, Customers, John Leahy. “So whether you fly your own Airbus corporate jet or charter one from a leading VVIP operator such as Comlux, you can be sure to get the best cabin in the sky,” he adds.
With a heritage of modern airframes, efficient engines, and robust reliability, as well as apartment-sized cabins, Airbus corporate jets are the new top end of the business jet market. With a similar footprint to that of traditional large business-jets, Airbus corporate jets also fit existing ramp space.
More than 170 Airbus corporate jets have been sold worldwide, and they are flying on every continent, including Antarctica.
Airbus ACJ319 makes first appearance at South African show
Showcases widest and tallest cabin of any corporate jet
21 September 2012
Airbus’ ACJ319 is making its South African airshow debut at AAD[1] giving visitors from the region their first chance to experience the aircraft’s comfort and space at first hand, as well as to compare it with other aircraft on display.
Similar in size externally to competing aircraft, the Airbus ACJ319’s distinguishing feature is that it has the widest and tallest cabin of any business jet, delivering unequalled comfort, space and freedom of movement – as well as the ability to carry more people.
The Airbus ACJ319 on display is operated by Comlux, seats 19 passengers, and is available for VVIP charter. In daytime, the cabin provides tables at which to work, a lounge area for discussions, and the privacy of two offices. At night, many of the seats convert to beds and the offices to bedrooms, making the best practical and productive use of space.
Like all Airbus corporate jets, the Airbus ACJ319 features intercontinental range, allowing it to fly nonstop throughout Africa – as well as to reach much of the world with a single stop.
“Any corporate jet can save you time and money by making you more productive, but only Airbus corporate jets can do so with more capacity, capability and comfort, making them increasingly the preferred choice of companies, individuals and governments around the world,” points out Airbus Chief Operating Officer, Customers, John Leahy. “For customers that want to carry even more people even farther, we also offer corporate jet versions of our modern widebody family, which have ‘nonstop to the world’ range,” he adds.
Airbus corporate jets brings have excellent reliability – a tribute to their airliner heritage – as well as being backed by a comprehensive worldwide support network. And with more than 470 Airbus customers and operators around the world, Airbus corporate jet clients invariably have access to maintenance facilities in their own country – often a key issue, especially with governments.
Airbus has sold some 170 corporate jets to date, and its aircraft are the only ones flying on every continent, including Antarctica, highlighting their versatility. Customers comprise companies, individuals and governments, in roughly equal measure.
