Airbus, Boeing announce enhanced business jets

Sky — Boeing has announced BBJ derivatives of its 737 MAX family.

Airbus and Boeing have both announced upgraded business jets at this year’s National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) conference in Florida.

Airbus has introduced the ACJ318 Enhanced aircraft, a new version of the smallest of the manufacturer’s corporate jet family.

New features on the A318 derivative include an extensive cabin upgrade, and communications and entertainment improvements. The aircraft will also feature wingtip Sharklets to extend the range of and fuel economy of the aircraft.

Boeing, meanwhile, has announced its intention to offer the BBJ Max 8 and BBJ Max 9 aircraft in what the manufacturer describes as “furthering Boeing’s dominance in the large cabin ultra-long-range business jet market”.

The MAX 8, the first of the two upgraded BBJs to be offered, will feature CFM’s new LEAP-1B engines and new winglets, which will see a 13 per cent improvement in fuel economy and range extended to 6,325nm.