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With the emergence of a new generation of large-cabin, long-range business aircraft, the industry could be witnessing a sea change in the traditional chicken-and-egg relationship between airframe and engine makers. Unlike previous generations, which use myriad bespoke engines derived from existing families, at least some of the new large business jets will be powered by purpose-designed powerplants, derived from the same all-new cores in development for the next generation of commercial airliners.

The story clearly seems too good to be true. A small, privately owned business jet operator places the biggest-ever order for large corporate jets and conquers the market with its not-so-unusual business model, while others complain about the continuing crisis in European business aviation.

The A318 is a twin-engine, 107-132 passenger narrowbody jetliner. Initial flight occurred in January 2002. The European Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA) certified the A318 (with CFM56 engines) in May 2003; this was followed by FAA certification in June of that year. Deliveries began in July 2003 and continued through 2012, Airbus had produced 78 A318s. The A318 is powered by two 21,600-23,800-lb.-thrust turbofan engines, either the Pratt & Whitney PW6000 or CFM56-5B. Primary competition includes the Embraer 190 and 195, and Bombardier CSeries.

These models, along with the A318, make up the Airbus A320 family of twin-turbofan, narrowbody airliners. The initial model in the series was the A320, which made its first flight in February 1987. A320 deliveries began in 1988, followed by the stretched A321 in 1994 and the A319, a shortened variant of the A320, in 1996. All three original models are available with either CFM56 or International Aero Engines V2500 powerplants. The A319 typically seats 124 passengers, the A320 carries 150, and the A321 seats 185.