Airbus has secured a massive order for the A220. Low-cost carrier Air Asia signed a long-awaited mega order for no less than 150 units and took an option on another 150. As a result, the airline instantly becomes the largest customer for the type, of which more than 1,100 have now been sold.

Until now, Delta Air Lines (145), JetBlue (100), airBaltic and Breeze Airways (both 90) were the largest buyers of the A220 series. Air Asia is now taking over the top spot.

For months, persistent rumors had been circulating that Air Asia was interested in the A220, the smallest member of the Airbus family. The deal is done: under the watchful eye of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Air Asia CEO Tony Fernandes signed the order.

Air Asia is opting for the A220-300, the largest version of the A220. The budget airline is equipping its aircraft with 160 seats. That is more than is currently permitted, but Airbus is installing an extra pair of emergency exits to make the increase in seating capacity possible. This is not unusual: easyJet previously used this method to allow more seats to be installed in the A319.

Air Asia is a major Airbus customer: the budget airline already operates around 110 aircraft from the A320 series and has nearly 360 on order. The A220 is scheduled to be deployed on routes within Asia starting in 2028, so that the current fleet of A320s can be used for longer flights.

Airbus has scored well so far with the A220, formerly known as the Bombardier CSeries. In Europe, SWISS, Air France, and AirBaltic are major customers, while in the US, JetBlue, Breeze Airways, and Delta Air Lines fly it.

In Asia, sales for the A220 have been slow until now. Korean Air as been flying ten aircraft since 2017 and Iraqi Airways has five, but otherwise, Airbus has failed to secure any orders. Air Asia is now changing that.

--- DB4 - 20230201
* Origin: AVIATION ECHO HQ (2:292/854)