The A318 Elite was introduced at the 2005 NBAA convention in Orlando, FL, and is based on the A318 airliner. The A318 Elite was developed in an exclusive partnership with Lufthansa Technik. The German ultra-large business jet specialist created two basic cabin configurations for either 18 or 14 passengers, plus 11 additional options to meet virtually all potential customer needs. Lufthans Technik promised a speedy turnaround for A318 Elite customers, with a downtime of just four months.
The Airbus Corporate Jetliner is an airliner-sized jet sold to corporate operators that is capable of more than 6,000 nautical miles of cruising range. Its spacious cabin is over 12 feet wide and 7 feet high. The 5,900-cubic-foot cabin provides plenty of room for private staterooms and conference rooms that do not restrict movement by other passengers going from one end of the cabin to the other. The Airbus design is 20 years newer than its closest rival and also employs the latest fly-by-wire technology.
With Airbus products used all over the globe, customers are assured of good worldwide support. Additionally, being certificated as a standard airliner will mean more potential buyers if put up for sale sometime in the future.
In 2011, Airbus renamed the A318 Elite the ACJ318.