The praises of the Airbus A220 are often sung here at Simple Flying. The versatility, high fuel efficiency and passenger comfort afforded by this regional jet has made it a firm favorite with frequent fliers and cost-conscious airlines alike. So when we heard about a corporate jet concept based on the A220, we had to take a closer look. Here’s what we found.
The stunning A220 design
The Airbus A220 corporate jet concept has been developed by a consortium of three project partners – Camber Aviation Management, Kestrel Aviation Management and Pierrejean Vision. Pooling their resources and knowledge, the partners have come up with a corporate jet concept that can only be described as jaw-dropping.
The design is based on a seven zone cabin, although naturally there is flexibility within this to tailor it to a customer’s individual taste. Three of the zones are fixed for every design – these are the entry area and galley, the mid-cabin VIP lavatory and the stunning master suite with its own ensuite bathroom complete with steam shower.
However, the configuration of the rest of the plane is up to the individual client. Up to four more zones are available for design, so whether the client wants a mini boardroom for meetings, a children’s bedroom, a lavishly appointed media lounge, or a formal dining room, everything is possible.
Tom Chatfield, CEO of Camber Aviation Management, says that the key to the A220 corporate jet is the ability to get what you want. He said,
“Customization is key in our industry-leading approach allowing every buyer to select different configurations for the multiple flexible zones, creating their own unique layout that precisely reflects their expectations.”
Buyers will also be able to select their own colors, finishes and materials to create a truly bespoke cabin that suits their needs and lifestyle. The team has created a CGI mock-up of how this incredible interior could look as a finished product. I think you’ll agree it looks good enough to live in.
Why the A220?
The choice of the A220, if you’ve ever flown in one, is natural. Despite not being a new aircraft, it’s still relatively new as an Airbus product and has gained a solid fan base, both in terms of airlines and passengers. airBaltic is emerging as an all-A220 airline, Air Canada is increasingly relying on the A220 for its regional ops and JetBlue is eagerly awaiting the delivery of its first of the type in December this year.
Tom Chatfield explained to Simple Flying why the Airbus A220 was an ideal platform for cabin design innovation, saying,
“Offering cabin floorspace and volume equivalent to Airbus’ ACJ319Neo and Boeing’s BBJ Max7, the Airbus A220 integrates leading-edge technologies and safety features equal or superior to the latest generation business jets.”
It’s a very interesting concept and something that we can fully see brought to reality in the future. However, at this stage, it’s really just a paper design, so will likely be some time before anything like this takes to the skies. Stephen Vella, CEO of Kestrel Aviation Management told us,
“A detailed design rather than a marketing concept, perhaps, but one that provides a great insight of what this team is capable of in corporate jet cabin innovation.”
What do you think of the A220 corporate jet concept? Would you buy it? Let us know in the comments.