Air Canada orders five additional A220s
December 20, 2024
The top-up by follows an initial 2016 order for 45 A220-300s and a 2022 reorder that added 15 more. The latest reorder will take Air Canada’s total firm orders for the A220-300 to 65 aircraft.
The A220 is the most modern airliner in its size category, combining the longest range, lowest fuel consumption and widest cabin in its class, carrying 100-150 passengers on flights of up to 3,600 nautical miles (6,700 km).
The A220 is powered by Pratt & Whitney’s latest-generation GTF engines which offer a 25% reduction in fuel consumption and carbon emissions per seat. As with all Airbus aircraft, the A220 is already able to operate using up to 50% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), and Airbus aims for all of its aircraft to be capable of operating with up to 100% SAF by 2030.
The A220 was originally developed as the Bombardier CSeries, before the aircraft was rebranded as the A220 in July 2018. This followed Airbus’ acquisition of a majority stake in the programme through a joint venture that became Airbus Canada Limited Partnership (ACLP) in June 2019.
The A220 is the only Airbus commercial aircraft programme that is managed outside Europe. The original factory in Mirabel, Quebec was augmented by a second A220 final assembly line at the Airbus Mobile facility in Alabama. Airbus increased its stake in ACLP to 75% In February 2020, with Bombardier’s exit. The remaining share is held by Investissement Québec.
Appropriately, Air Canada was the launch operator of the A220-300 in North America, and the airline has operated its A220 fleet to more than 70 destinations since January 2020.
Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, EVP Sales Commercial Aircraft at Airbus said: “This is Air Canada’s third order for the A220 in a few years. We are committed to working closely with the flag carrier as we support its fleet renewal programme. The A220 is the most efficient aircraft in its size category, offering superior comfort with a spacious cabin and the range to fly numerous destinations on the carrier’s network.”
John Di Bert, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Air Canada said: “The A220 has delivered on its promises for Air Canada in its five years in service. It has allowed us to open new routes and better serve existing routes with an aircraft that has the right economics to support our profitable growth strategy. It is also very popular with customers. We are pleased to add an additional five of these aircraft, built in Mirabel, Quebec, right up the road from our Montreal headquarters and to further support Canada’s aerospace sector.”
By the end of November 2024, Air Canada’s fleet included 134 Airbus aircraft, including examples of the A320, the A330 and the A220-300. Air Canada has also placed an order for 26 A321XLRs.
By the end of November 2024, Airbus had received nearly 900 orders for the A220, from 32 customers. Nearly 380 of these have now been delivered to 23 operators worldwide. The fleet is currently flying on more than 1,500 routes and is serving more than 460 destinations across the globe, confirming the type’s leading position in the small single-aisle market.
