MEBA2012: Celebrating a new Gala design
Airbus Corporate Jets has revealed its new VIP cabin concept for wide-bodied corporate airliners, designed with an eye to the growing Middle Eastern market.
“The Middle East is the biggest market for true wide-bodied business jets,” said Francois Chazelle, vice president commercial.
“This new concept, called Gala, will enable customers to buy the aircraft knowing what they can get, when they can get it and at what price.”
The design enables the completions centre to build a VVIP cabin between doors two and three of the airliner. It features a master bedroom with lavatory, an office and a dining room/conference area. Aft of door three, aircraft seating can be retained in a business or economy configuration for staff.
The concept has been fast-tracked for the A340-500s being returned from Singapore Airlines, as part of the deal to upgrade to Airbus A380s, but can also be installed into A330s and all versions of the A340s.
The Singapore Airlines aircraft will be returned to Toulouse is the fourth quarter of 2013 and Chazelle said fitting the Gala cabin would take a year to complete.
There is a desire for used wide-bodied airlines for VVIP conversion. Chazelle said: “These aircraft – particularly the Singapore ones – have a lot of life left in them and they are available quickly.”
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