On Dec. 15, European aircraft maker Airbus demonstrated its latest business jet, the A318 Elite, at Haneda airport in Tokyo in a bid to sell the plane to major Japanese companies.

The eight-seat version of the A318 Elite can make direct flights from Tokyo to Southeast Asia and would be suitable for large companies that frequently send executives overseas for business trips, Airbus said.

The reference price of the business jet is put at US$62 million.

The A318 features a spacious passenger cabin with a maximum width of 3.7 meters and height of 2.25 meters, offering an exceptional level of comfort, Airbus said.

It contains a lounge, a reading room and beds, the company said.

Airbus sold 25 business jets globally in 2008.