Major Boost for Canadian Aviation as AirAsia Orders 150 Quebec-Made A220s

Malaysian LCC AirAsia has placed a multi-billion dollar order with Airbus Canada for 150 latest generation A220-300 aircraft. 

The purchase agreement is the largest single firm order placed for the A220 and propels the program beyond the 1,000 firm order milestone, underscoring the global appeal of the Canadian-developed and assembled aircraft.

The French-owned Airbus bought a majority of Bombardier’s beleaguered CSeries program in 2018 and rebranded it as the A220.

The importance of the deal was highlighted at the signing event by the attendance of the Right Honourable Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada and The Honourable Christine Frechette, Premier of Quebec. Air Asia CEO Tony Fernandes and Lars Wagner, Chief Executive Officer Commercial Aircraft at Airbus, also attended.

The first A220-300 is expected to roll off the line in the first quarter of 2028, said Fernandes. The airline will be the launch customer for the aircraft’s new cabin configuration of 160 seats. The increase in capacity, with 10 more seats, is made possible by the addition of an extra overwing exit on each side of the aircraft.

“We have built AirAsia by making bold decisions at the right moment, not the easiest moment. This order reflects our long-term discipline and the scale of our ambitions,” Fernandes said.

“The A220 unlocks new markets and routes and brings us closer to building the world’s first true low-cost network carrier. Our partnership with Airbus spans more than two decades and has been central to everything we have achieved,” he added.

“The A220  will provide an optimal platform for AirAsia, combining low operating costs with the range that will enable the carrier to open new routes across Asia and beyond,” said Airbus’s Wagner. 

“Quebec is a global leader in aerospace, with a unique ability to design, develop, and manufacture some of the most advanced aircraft in the world,” said Premier Fréchette. “Once again, we are demonstrating that Quebec is ambitious and capable of delivering.”

Combining the longest range, lowest fuel consumption and widest cabin in its class, the A220 carries between 100 to 160 passengers on flights of up to 3,600 nautical miles (6,700 km). At the end of March 2026, 501 A220s had been delivered to 25 operators worldwide.