Airbus sold 20 business jets in Saudi Arabia and 10 in UAE

Dubai: Airbus, the European aircraft manufacturer has sold 23 Airbus Corporate Jets (ACJs) this year globally, with a growing demand of larger (widebody) aircraft, top company officials said yesterday.

Saudi Arabia bought 20 jets and the UAE 10.

Francois Chazelle, vice-president of executive and private aviation, Airbus, said that last year the company saw a record in sales, at 36 jets worldwide.

Airbus ACJ, launched a decade ago, has completed 150 sales worldwide of their aircraft including 50 under manufacturing.

David Velupillai, marketing director of executive and private aviation at Airbus said that the company had not witnessed an impact on sales of the global credit crunch.

"Billion dollar companies still have the same travelling needs,' he said, adding that there is a general caution from future prospects as decision makers are postponing new orders to see how the market goes.

Velupillai added that the slight slowdown of the market is not affecting them.

Airbus, with an annual turnover of 25 billion euros, manufactures approximately 470 aircraft a year.

The ACJ family of jets offers the A318 Elite, A320 Prestige, as well as widebody aircraft of A340, A350 and A380 Prestige. Around 150 Airbus aircraft are in the VIP and government service around 100 of the ACJ family and 50 widebodies.

The manufacturer will be displaying an ACJ with a VIP cabin at the Middle East Business Aviation show, taking place next week.

Velupillai added that the slight slowdown of the market is not affecting them as they have a backload of orders still to deliver.