Airbus A318 Elite

The Airbus A318 Elite is the private version of the shortest airliner in the A320 family, sold later under the name ACJ318. Its fuselage is about 2.4 m shorter than that of the ACJ319, but the cross-section is the same: 3.70 m wide and 2.25 m high. A cabin of 21.6 m holds a lounge, a dining area, a separate room for work or sleep and 14 to 18 passengers, depending on the layout.

The type suits a group of 12 to 18 people who want to travel together: a company on the way to a conference, a family with staff, a team with its kit. From Western Europe it flies non-stop to the Canaries, Morocco, Tel Aviv and the Gulf, and from London to New York. Few aircraft are available for charter, so availability on your date decides whether the A318 Elite is the answer.

An airliner cross-section in four zones

The A318 Elite cabin is divided into four zones. Each aircraft was fitted to the wishes of its first owner, but the plan is usually similar: a lounge with club seats and sofas at the front, then a dining or meeting table, and at the rear a separate room used as an office or bedroom. The galley and an extra toilet are normally at the front, so the crew can work without disturbing passengers.

With 2.25 m of headroom everyone stands upright, and 3.70 m of width leaves room for seats on both sides and a wide aisle. That is the real difference from the largest business jets. The A318 Elite does have less floor than an ACJ319: for 12 or 14 people there is plenty of room, with 18 on board every zone is used. Two pilots fly the aircraft, and the operator sets the cabin crew by route and number of passengers.

Baggage: about 12.2 m³ under the floor

What the holds take:

• a large suitcase for every passenger on a week's holiday
• skis and boots for a group on its way to Geneva
• golf bags for a whole party bound for Malaga or Antalya
• pushchairs and sports equipment

The A318 Elite holds take almost as much as the hold of an Embraer Lineage 1000 and clearly more than an ACJ319 with all its extra tanks. Some aircraft carry an additional fuel tank in the hold, which leaves less space, so send a list of large items with the request. On the longest legs with a full cabin the operator adds up passengers, baggage and fuel together.

A318 Elite range, speed and airports

Airbus gives 7,778 km (4,200 nm) with IFR reserves, and with every seat taken about 7,000 km. The route table plans non-stop legs up to 6,500 km at 830 km/h, which covers Dubai, Doha and Riyadh from any hub. London - New York (5,526 km to JFK) is inside that limit; with 18 passengers and a strong westerly wind over the Atlantic, the operator may plan a stop in Ireland or Iceland.

The A318 Elite lands in 1,230 m and needs 1,780 m to take off at maximum weight, short for an airliner, because the shorter fuselage has the same wing as the larger models. All thirteen hubs in the table have runways and aprons used by airliners of this size.

Flying a bizliner in Europe

Routes from European hubs

Thirty A318 Elite routes from all thirteen hubs, from Geneva - London (1:24 h) to London - Dubai (7:10 h), all without a fuel stop. Prices are one way for the whole aircraft with crew and fuel, without airport fees and passenger taxes. Flight time follows the great circle plus taxi, climb and approach; legs to the Gulf depend on which airspace is open, and the operator confirms the time in the quote.

Up to 2 hours: business cities and islands

2 to 4 hours: Greece, Spain, Morocco and Turkey

Over 4 hours: Canaries, Gulf and New York

The longest legs in the table are Dubai from London (7:10 h) and New York (7:09 h). On those two the reserve is smallest, so a stop depends on wind and the number of passengers. Malé, Miami and the US West Coast are beyond the range of the A318 Elite: an ACJ319 or a BBJ with extra tanks flies them without a stop.

The calculator shows an indicative price for the A318 Elite on any route you choose; the exact amount is confirmed with the operator once we know where the aircraft is.

How much does an A318 Elite charter cost

The flight-hour rate starts at EUR 18,000 for the whole aircraft, with crew and fuel. On short legs the total is above the rate multiplied by flight time, because positioning, the minimum charge and handling form a fixed part: Geneva - London (1:24 h) costs EUR 34,000 and London - Nice (1:45 h) EUR 40,000.

On longer legs that fixed part weighs less. Zurich - Tenerife (4:11 h) costs EUR 84,000, Nice - Dubai (6:16 h) EUR 120,000 and London - New York EUR 135,000. The price is the same with 8 or 18 passengers, so a group that fills the cabin splits it many ways and travels together on one aircraft.

The price is for the whole aircraft, so the cost per person on London - Dubai depends only on how many fly:

How to pay less

Empty Legs on the A318 Elite

Empty Legs on this type are rare: the few aircraft in charter often move between Europe and the Middle East, and empty sectors appear mostly on those positioning flights. When one fits your plans, it can cost 30-60% less than a normal charter, as an example, not a promise.

• Date, route and time are set by the operator
• The leg can be cancelled if the aircraft gets a full charter
• The return is booked separately

Send the route and a date window to empty-legs@jets.flights or through the Empty Legs page, and we tell you if a bizliner turns up on your route.

ACJ319, BBJ, Lineage 1000 or Global 6000

Whoever asks for an A318 Elite is usually looking for a bizliner for a group, and availability on the date decides. That is why we price similar types alongside it.

How to book

For a quote we need:

• the route with airport names, especially for islands and smaller airports
• dates and times for both directions
• the number of passengers and how many want to sleep on a night leg
• baggage, especially skis, golf bags and sports equipment
• any dog or cat on board, with breed and weight

If an A318 Elite is not free on your date, you get a quote for a similar bizliner straight away. We work only with operators holding an AOC, and the quote names the operator, the aircraft and the positioning cost.

Questions about the A318 Elite

• • How much does an A318 Elite from Nice to Dubai cost?

  • The flight takes 6:16 h without a stop, and the price for the whole aircraft one way starts at EUR 120,000. Airport fees, the French passenger tax and usually positioning from the aircraft's base come on top.

• • Why does a short flight cost more per hour?

  • Every trip carries a fixed part for positioning, the minimum charge and handling of a 68 t aircraft. Geneva - London takes 1:24 h and costs EUR 34,000, while Frankfurt - Riyadh (5:40 h) costs EUR 110,000, so the fixed part is spread over more hours.

• • What is not included in the table price?

  • Airport and handling fees, passenger taxes, catering, winter de-icing and the crew's hotel if the aircraft waits for you. Positioning usually appears as a separate line, as the nearest free aircraft is often far away.

• • How can I fly the A318 Elite for less?

  • Be flexible with the date, ask for the ACJ319 and the Lineage 1000 in the same request and compare a waiting crew with two empty legs for the return. For 12 people or fewer, a long-range business jet is often cheaper.

• • Are there Empty Legs on the A318 Elite?

  • Rarely, as only a few aircraft fly in charter. Empty sectors appear mostly between Europe and the Middle East, at 30-60% below a normal charter in some cases, with a fixed date and the risk of cancellation.

• • How many people can fly on an A318 Elite?

  • Airbus offered layouts for up to 14 and up to 18 passengers, and the figure for a specific aircraft depends on its cabin. On a night flight some can sleep in the rear room and on the sofas, if the aircraft is fitted for it.

• • Can it fly to New York without a stop?

  • From London, yes in normal conditions: about 5,526 km and 7:09 h to JFK. With every seat taken and strong headwinds the operator may plan a stop in Ireland or Iceland.

• • What is the difference between the A318 Elite and the ACJ318?

  • It is the same aircraft. A318 Elite was the first sales name, which Airbus later replaced with ACJ318 to match the ACJ319 and ACJ320. Aircraft differ in their cabins, not in the name.

• • Can it land at London City?

  • The CFM56-powered version is certified for the steep approach, and A318s flew from London City on scheduled services. For a private aircraft the equipment and the airport's approval must be confirmed; otherwise it lands at Luton or Farnborough.

• • Is there room for skis and golf bags?

  • Usually yes, as the holds have about 12.2 m³, more than in a business jet. If the aircraft has an extra fuel tank in the hold, there is less space, so send the list of equipment with the request.