Airbus Buys Piece of Seattle's Tenzing To Bolster Passengers' Internet Access

Customers for $35 million business jets like the Airbus Corporate Jetliner (A319CJ) tend to be picky, so Airbus has spent recent months making sure it keeps them happy.

Keeping executives in constant contact with the ground is one facility operators are demanding. Airbus is attempting to address that need through a recent partnership with Tenzing Communications to bring email to the ACJ. The two companies have launched a strategic partnership to offer in-flight email and Internet access to airline passengers, in what could be the first widespread operational service of its kind. A Tenzing-outfitted ACJ was displayed at this past summer's Paris Air Show as an example of what Airbus Corporate Jetliner customers can expect.

As part of the partnership, Airbus acquired a 30% share in Tenzing, which becomes the manufacturer's preferred supplier for the in-flight email and Internet solutions that will be a key component in the Airbus in-flight information services (AFIS) plan.

Tenzing's contribution to the partnership includes proprietary software that runs on a computer server in the aircraft and makes use of existing L-band air-to-ground satellite links, enabling passengers to send and retrieve virtual email via their own laptop computers. Not a true web-surfing service at this point, the email service is slow by ground standards and one cannot sign on live to one's usual Internet service provider. However, Tenzing and Airbus see this interim solution as capable of evolving to make use of broadband (Ku-band), once it becomes available and economically acceptable.

Ku-band does permit live email, but it is very expensive and generally unsuitable for the corporate market at the moment. Airbus is planning to use it because it believes the costs can be defrayed when airlines take advantage of it.

In another recent ACJ-related partnership agreement, Airbus Industrie and International Aero Engines (IAE) reached a business agreement which makes IAE the reference engine supplier for the ACJ. As a result, the IAE powered ACJs will be proposed to private customers and corporations as a global package. The IAE engine already powers about one-half of the A320 series aircraft ordered to-date, which includes the A319, on which the ACJ is based. The IAE engines, designated V2527M-A5s in their ACJ application, each provide 27,000-pounds-thrust, giving the aircraft good performance, even in hot-and-high conditions.

"The advanced technology of the V2500 propulsion system is a perfect match with the Airbus Corporate Jetliner," says Michael Field, IAE senior VP, sales and customer support. "We believe that the new business relationship with Airbus will provide greater business benefits for all ACJ customers." Added Airbus Corporate Jetliner vice president Richard Gaona, "This combination will allow us to be even more competitive."

Also on the partnership front, Air France Industries (AFI) is the fifth approved cabin outfitter for the ACJ. AFI has also been chosen to provide European and Middle East coverage to Airbus Industrie business partner United Services--a subsidiary of UAL--as part of its single-point-of-contact "one call handles all" customer support program. AFI will outfit up to four a year from the second half of 2001. As a major operator of the A320 family, AFI is also able to provide clients with training and maintenance support.

The six standard ACJ layouts offer interiors that range from 10 to 39 seats, weigh 8,500 pounds to 10,700 pounds, and cost from around $8 million for the simplest version up to $12 million for a more luxurious configuration. Typical cabin installation time is from four to eight months.

And in the latest sales news, Aero Services Executive has become the first French company to operate an ACJ. The aircraft, the first of its kind available for executive charter flights from Paris, was to have been on show at NBAA in the static park.

Aero Services Executive, based at Le Bourget Airport near Paris, outfitted its ACJ with a plush 29-seat interior.

Airbus Industrie holds 26 orders for the ACJ.

-Barry Rosenberg