Lufthansa Technik to launch VIP cabin upgrade program for the Airbus ACJ318 Elite

• Lufthansa Technik has launched a comprehensive cabin upgrade program for ACJ318 Elite jets, modernising interiors and technology.
• Enhancements include new IFE systems, refreshed materials, and Airbus’ LEO SatCom connectivity for faster onboard internet.
• The program revives Lufthansa Technik’s original ACJ318 Elite work, extending the aircraft’s lifespan and luxury appeal.

Lufthansa Technik has launched a dedicated upgrade program for the Airbus ACJ318 Elite. In line with this, the company will offer a tailored suite of enhancements designed to refresh and modernise the cabin environment of the smallest VIP type in the European planemaker’s popular A320 family.

Lufthansa Technik’s VIP Centre of Excellence in Hamburg will certify and deliver various modifications that bring the aircraft’s millennium-era interiors up to today’s highest standards. The portfolio will encompass both optical refurbishments and the latest technical upgrades.

The ACJ318 Elite’s original VIP cabins were already exclusively designed and fitted by Lufthansa Technik between 2007 and 2015. Its airliner-sized fuselage diameter enabled a considerably spacious interior with areas for dining, lounging and offices, as well as amenities like a private bath and bedroom. While the Elite’s basic floor plan and cabin monuments were largely standardized to a 19-passenger layout, customers could choose from a broad variety of high-quality cabin materials.

However, as expectations evolve and technology advances, Lufthansa Technik is now responding with a focused upgrade strategy that preserves the aircraft’s premium appeal while aligning it with today’s standards of luxury and connectivity.

To make the ACJ318 Elite future-proof and get it ready for many more years of smooth operation, the modernization work scope of Lufthansa Technik’s experts will not only encompass optical renewals, for example of wood veneers, carpets and upholstery. It can also include a replacement of the entire In-flight Entertainment (IFE) and onboard connectivity equipment.

The IFE can, for example, be upgraded with new high-definition screens, speakers and a modernised cabin management. Connectivity onboard can moreover benefit from the installation of a state-of-the-art Low Earth Orbit (LEO) SatCom solution developed by Airbus Corporate Jets that lets passengers enjoy a much faster internet connection for office and entertainment applications.

“We are dedicated to providing cutting-edge solutions to meet our customers’ evolving needs,” said Chadi Saade, President of Airbus Corporate Jets. “We proudly collaborate with our partners on the ACJ318 Elite, ensuring that our customers benefit from the most advanced connectivity options, offering a new level in passenger experience and inflight connectivity with ACJ Connect Link which leverages Gogo Galileo’s Full Duplex terminal.”

“Even highest-quality aircraft such as the ACJ318 Elite are not fully immune against a decade of everyday wear and tear, and especially not against the extremely fast-paced development of new cabin and connectivity technology,” said Fabian Nagel, Vice President Sales, VIP & Special Aircraft Services at Lufthansa Technik. “Therefore, we are honoured to revive the successful ACJ318 Elite program. Our unmatched expertise in VIP interiors, which already went into every A318 Elite from the beginning, will now also be employed to extend the lifespan and enhance the value of these remarkable aircraft.”

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