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Canada: Air Canada has reinforced its commitment to the Airbus A220 program with an order for five additional A220-300 aircraft, bringing its total fleet commitment to 65 planes. The announcement coincides with the airline's five-year milestone of A220 operations, which began in December 2019.
The decision builds upon Air Canada's previous orders - an initial 45 aircraft in 2016 and 15 more in 2022. As North America's first A220-300 operator, the airline has successfully deployed these aircraft to more than 70 destinations since January 2020.
"The A220 has surpassed our expectations during its five years of service," said John Di Bert, Air Canada's Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. He emphasized the aircraft's role in developing new routes and enhancing existing ones while noting its local significance, as the planes are manufactured in Mirabel, Quebec, near the airline's Montreal headquarters.
The A220's performance metrics have been particularly impressive, featuring:
- Passenger capacity of 100-150 seats
- Range capability of up to 3,600 nautical miles (6,700 km)
- 25% reduction in fuel consumption and carbon emissions compared to previous generation aircraft
- Current capability to operate with up to 50% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)
The aircraft's global success is evident in Airbus's order book, with nearly 900 orders from 32 customers worldwide and approximately 380 deliveries to date. The A220 currently serves 23 airlines globally, operating on more than 1,500 routes connecting over 460 destinations.
As of November 2024, Air Canada's Airbus fleet includes 134 aircraft across various models, including the A320 Family, A330 Family, and A220-300 series. The airline has also committed to 26 A321XLRs for future fleet expansion, reinforcing its position as Canada's only A220 operator.
Airbus is working toward making the A220 compatible with 100% SAF by 2030, aligning with global aviation sustainability goals.
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