Airbus takes on Embraer on its home turf with Flybondi’s landmark A220 order
December 4, 2025
Flybondi has placed one of the most interesting fleet bets South America has seen in years, ordering Airbus A220s and Boeing 737 MAX 10s in a move that will make it the first airline in Latin America to fly the A220.
The deal, worth around $1.7 billion, marks a major step in the Argentinian ultra-low-cost carrier’s plan to scale up fast and take on new regional markets.
Flybondi picks Airbus A220 and Boeing 737 MAX
The order covers 15 A220-300s and ten 737 MAX 10s, plus options for another five of each. That brings the total potential fleet addition to 35 aircraft — a huge step change for a carrier that currently operates 14 737-800s and a handful of ACMI A320s.
The A220s will start arriving from 2027 to 2029, with the MAX 10s following between 2027 and 2030. The entire plan is backed by Flybondi’s new major investor, Miami-based COC Global Enterprise, which is funding what it calls a “historic” expansion for the airline.
Flybondi says the new aircraft will support a 230% increase in capacity over the next four years, opening new domestic and international markets it currently can’t reach.
A breakthrough for Airbus and the A220 in Latin America
Despite its global success, the A220 has never managed to break into Latin America. The aircraft has always looked well-suited to the region: long range, low operating costs, and good economics on thinner routes. Yet, no carrier had stepped forward to launch it.
By committing to the A220-300, Flybondi becomes the first operator in Latin America, giving Airbus a long-awaited entry point into a region dominated by either larger narrowbodies or, for smaller markets, older-generation regional jets.
Flybondi plans to pack its A220s with 160 seats, leaning into the ULCC model but still benefiting from the aircraft’s softer ride, quiet cabin and strong fuel burn performance.
In practice, the A220 should give the airline enough flexibility to open routes that couldn’t support an A320neo or 737 MAX but still need something bigger and more capable than a traditional regional jet.
Taking on Embraer’s E2 on home turf
Flybondi’s choice places the A220 squarely against its biggest rival: Embraer’s E2 family. The E195-E2 already has a real footprint in South America, with Brazil’s Azul operating the world’s largest fleet and LATAM ordering dozens more for its Brazilian network. Mexico’s new Mexicana has also signed for the type.
Flybondi’s move changes that story. If the airline manages to scale the A220 quickly and profitably, it could start to shift perceptions about which aircraft is better suited to the region’s mix of long-thin routes, mid-sized cities and growing low-cost demand.
It also raises a simple, interesting question: Did Airbus offer Flybondi an especially sharp deal to secure the first Latin American customer?
Boeing 737 MAX 10s for high-density growth
At the other end of the size spectrum, Flybondi’s ten 737 MAX 10s will give the airline serious capacity on trunk domestic routes and high-demand regional links. Seating around 230 passengers in a single-class layout, the MAX 10s will complement both the A220-300s and the existing 737-800s.
The order lands just days after Aerolíneas Argentinas confirmed its own renewal plan, suggesting both major Argentinian carriers see clear room for growth despite a tough macroeconomic backdrop.
But Flybondi’s deal stands out because of what it unlocks. The airline gets the flexibility of a genuinely modern small narrowbody, Airbus gets its first A220 customer in the region, and the A220–E2 rivalry gains a new, very visible battleground.
