Airbus Announces Newest Corporate Airliner: A318 Elite

The new model is the smallest member of the Airbus range and it's based on the same fuselage cross section as the A320 Prestige. The Airbus A318 Elite is aimed at the medium-range market for flights of up to 4,000 nm.

Airbus will offer the A318 Elite in partnership with Lufthansa Technik with a choice of two cabin layouts seating up to 14 and 18 passengers, respectively, with seats and settees clustered in several lounge areas throughout the cabin. Both will be able to fly non-stop from London to New York, according to an Airbus statement.

The A320 Prestige will be built using advanced laser-beam welding and incorporate liquid-crystal displays in the cockpit and an improved cabin-management system for lighting, in-flight entertainment and other services.

Like the rest of Airbus' Corporate Jetliner (ACJ) Family, the A318 also offers features such as public-transport certification, centralised maintenance, sidestick controllers, fly-by-wire controls, carbon brakes, category 3B autoland and a choice of engines and auxiliary power units.