Airbus is unveiling “A220: The Maverick,” a new four-part documentary series that takes viewers behind the scenes of the A220 program as never before.Designed for anyone curious about what happens inside an aircraft assembly site, the series explores everything from the A220’s design to the airlines that have made it a cornerstone of their fleet-renewal strategies.
Across four episodes, viewers will discover:
Episode 1 – “Designed to Redefine”: A tour of the Mirabel assembly site and a look at what made it possible to create this small single-aisle aircraft with long-haul capabilities.
Episode 2 – “Closer than ever”: how the A220 played a decisive role for QantasLink in connecting regional communities with major cities.
Episode 3 – “From coast to coast”: the passenger experience revisited by Air Canada.
Episode 4 – “Strength in the Skies”: the ambitious integration of the A220 into the LOT Polish Airlines fleet.
Featuring never-before-seen footage and exclusive interviews, “A220: The Maverick” is sure to captivate both aviation experts and enthusiasts.
Airbus is unveiling “A220: The Maverick,” a new four-part documentary series that takes viewers behind the scenes of the A220 program as never before.Designed for anyone curious about what happens inside an aircraft assembly site, the series explores everything from the A220’s design to the airlines that have made it a cornerstone of their fleet-renewal strategies.
Across four episodes, viewers will discover:
Episode 1 – “Designed to Redefine”: A tour of the Mirabel assembly site and a look at what made it possible to create this small single-aisle aircraft with long-haul capabilities.
Episode 2 – “Closer than ever”: how the A220 played a decisive role for QantasLink in connecting regional communities with major cities.
Episode 3 – “From coast to coast”: the passenger experience revisited by Air Canada.
Episode 4 – “Strength in the Skies”: the ambitious integration of the A220 into the LOT Polish Airlines fleet.
Featuring never-before-seen footage and exclusive interviews, “A220: The Maverick” is sure to captivate both aviation experts and enthusiasts.
Airbus is unveiling “A220: The Maverick,” a new four-part documentary series that takes viewers behind the scenes of the A220 program as never before.Designed for anyone curious about what happens inside an aircraft assembly site, the series explores everything from the A220’s design to the airlines that have made it a cornerstone of their fleet-renewal strategies.
Across four episodes, viewers will discover:
Episode 1 – “Designed to Redefine”: A tour of the Mirabel assembly site and a look at what made it possible to create this small single-aisle aircraft with long-haul capabilities.
Episode 2 – “Closer than ever”: how the A220 played a decisive role for QantasLink in connecting regional communities with major cities.
Episode 3 – “From coast to coast”: the passenger experience revisited by Air Canada.
Episode 4 – “Strength in the Skies”: the ambitious integration of the A220 into the LOT Polish Airlines fleet.
Featuring never-before-seen footage and exclusive interviews, “A220: The Maverick” is sure to captivate both aviation experts and enthusiasts.
Airbus is unveiling “A220: The Maverick,” a new four-part documentary series that takes viewers behind the scenes of the A220 program as never before.Designed for anyone curious about what happens inside an aircraft assembly site, the series explores everything from the A220’s design to the airlines that have made it a cornerstone of their fleet-renewal strategies.
Across four episodes, viewers will discover:
Episode 1 – “Designed to Redefine”: A tour of the Mirabel assembly site and a look at what made it possible to create this small single-aisle aircraft with long-haul capabilities.
Episode 2 – “Closer than ever”: how the A220 played a decisive role for QantasLink in connecting regional communities with major cities.
Episode 3 – “From coast to coast”: the passenger experience revisited by Air Canada.
Episode 4 – “Strength in the Skies”: the ambitious integration of the A220 into the LOT Polish Airlines fleet.
Featuring never-before-seen footage and exclusive interviews, “A220: The Maverick” is sure to captivate both aviation experts and enthusiasts.
Air Canada Rouge transitioning to a modern, all-Boeing 737 MAX fleet featuring seatback entertainment and Fast, Free Wi-Fi
Existing Rouge Airbus aircraft will be upgraded with new cabins and amenities, transitioning to the Air Canada mainline
Air Canada Express aircraft operated by Jazz to receive updated cabins and Next Generation Fast, Free Wi-Fi
MONTRÉAL, Nov. 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Air Canada today announced its most comprehensive cabin renewal program yet, designed to make every flight across North America more comfortable, more connected, and more consistent for customers and crew members. Spanning Air Canada mainline, Air Canada Rouge and Air Canada Express, this multi-year investment reimagines the onboard experience with new interiors, next-generation technology, and thoughtful details inspired by customer and co-worker feedback. This includes the industry’s most comprehensive Fast, Free Wi-Fi offering, sponsored by Bell.
“When customers step onto an Air Canada aircraft, they should instantly feel a sense of comfort, care, and pride,” said Mark Nasr, Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer at Air Canada. “Supported by award-winning service from co-workers across the company, this renewal program is about delivering that feeling consistently, across every flight. Whether traveling for business, leisure, or something in between, every update is designed with our customers in mind. Notably, this program includes an entirely new Air Canada Rouge product with cutting-edge in-flight entertainment, Fast, Free Wi-Fi, and seats that recline for all customers.”
A New Experience for Air Canada Rouge
All Boeing 737 MAX 8 currently part of Air Canada’s mainline fleet will transition to Air Canada Rouge through 2026. The updated cabins will feature 12 Business Class seats, 18 Preferred extra legroom Economy seats, and 147 Standard Economy seats – each reclining, featuring personal on-demand entertainment screens and Fast, Free Wi-Fi for Aeroplan Members.
To support this fleet transition, a new Rouge crew base will be opened in Vancouver, providing more choices for leisure travelers from Western Canada.
Mainline Comfort with a Modern Touch
As part of this transformation, all Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft will operate at Air Canada mainline. Those interiors will be upgraded to Air Canada’s latest standards, including new seating, the latest In-Flight Entertainment, and upgraded Fast, Free Wi-Fi. These renovated cabins will complement Air Canada’s new design standard: a distinctly Canadian aesthetic that is modern, accessible and warm, reflecting the beauty and sophistication of Canada. The program is well underway, with 15 Airbus A321s already flying with the upgrades.
Growing the Airbus A220 Fleet
Air Canada will continue to invest in its A220 fleet: a game changing aircraft providing category-leading comfort, technology, and efficiency – designed and built in Quebec. Air Canada has an additional 26 Airbus A220-300s on order and will introduce its new design standard on future deliveries, including Airbus’ larger XL overhead bins, as of March 2026.
Cabin upgrades extend to Air Canada Express
The customer experience uplift extends to regional travel. Air Canada Express aircraft operated by Jazz, including the Embraer E175 and Mitsubishi CRJ-900, will be fitted with the new cabin standard from 2026. Next generation Fast, Free Wi-Fi is being rolled out, with 55% of the fleet already completed. This is in addition to the previously announced upgrades to 25 De Havilland Dash 8-400 aircraft, which will undergo a full cabin redesign to install new seating, new interiors and, on aircraft flying from Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, next generation Fast, Free Wi-Fi.
Complimentary Beer, Wine, and Snacks
Alongside these cabin upgrades, Air Canada is also elevating the onboard experience across its North American network with complimentary beer, wine, and premium snacks on all flights operated by Air Canada, Air Canada Rouge, and Air Canada Express (Jazz). Customers can look forward to Canadian-made favourites such as MadeGood Morning Bars on flights departing before 10 a.m., TWIGZ seasoned pretzels, and Leclerc Célébration cookies, all served alongside a selection of complimentary beverages designed to make every journey more enjoyable.
About Air Canada
Air Canada is Canada’s largest airline, the country’s flag carrier and a founding member of Star Alliance, the world’s most comprehensive air transportation network. Air Canada provides scheduled service directly to more than 180 airports in Canada, the United States and Internationally on six continents. It holds a Four-Star ranking from Skytrax. Air Canada’s Aeroplan program is Canada’s premier travel loyalty program, where members can earn or redeem points on the world’s largest airline partner network of 45 airlines, plus through an extensive range of merchandise, hotel and car rental partners. Through Air Canada Vacations, it offers more travel choices than any other Canadian tour operator to hundreds of destinations worldwide, with a wide selection of hotels, flights, cruises, day tours, and car rentals. Its freight division, Air Canada Cargo, provides air freight lift and connectivity to hundreds of destinations across six continents using Air Canada’s passenger and freighter aircraft. Air Canada’s climate-related ambition includes a long-term aspirational goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
Mirabel, Canada, 25 August 2025 – An Air France Airbus A220 today completed its delivery flight from Airbus’ site in Mirabel to Paris powered by sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
This marked a significant step forward: Airbus in Canada directly issued official sustainability credentials for SAF to a customer for the first time.
This landmark flight not only confirms Airbus’ capability to provide Proofs of Sustainability (PoS) directly to customers and operators but also supports the industry’s commitment to decarbonisation. With PoS credits for a 50% SAF blend applied through the mass balance process, this ferry flight conducted by Air France’s 46th A220-300 named “VAISON-LA-ROMAINE”, represented more than 25 tonnes reduction in lifecycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions compared to fossil fuels.
“Fleet renewal and the use of sustainable aviation fuel are the two main levers of the decarbonization of aviation. Combining the two is only logical and Air France-KLM is proud to participate in this Airbus milestone with the delivery flight of one of our A220s. Air France-KLM is among the world’s largest buyers of SAF. Directly receiving SAF at delivery is a game-changer, increasing transparency and driving industry progress,” said Blaise Brigaud, SVP Group Sustainability, Air France-KLM.
Since the announcement of the first sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) delivery at Airbus site in Canada, enabling the Mirabel teams to use SAF for A220 production, customer acceptance, and test flights, this achievement solidifies Airbus’ commitment to using SAF for internal operations as well as customer ferry flights across all its commercial aircraft assembly sites and delivery centers worldwide.
“In 2025 alone, we project cutting CO2 emissions by approximately 400 metric tonnes at our Mirabel site thanks to the 170,000 litres of pure SAF we will integrate to our activities,” said Benoît Schultz, CEO of Airbus Canada.”And we’re pushing our ambition further with this ferry flight with PoS credits for 50% SAF – a significant step that comes just ahead of Air France’s 50th A220 delivery later this year. On a global scale, 78% of Airbus aircraft were delivered with SAF blend for the first half of the year, underscoring the importance our customers place on decarbonisation.”
As with all Airbus aircraft, the A220 is already capable of operating with up to 50% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Airbus aims for all its aircraft to be capable of operating with up to 100% SAF by 2030. According to the PoS under CORSIA Sustainability Certification Scheme approved by ICAO, the SAF received at Airbus in Mirabel is certified for 85% reduction in GHG emissions on its lifecycle compared to fossil fuel. This substantial reduction is crucial to the aerospace industry’s progress towards decarbonization by 2050.
SAF management in Mirabel is done using mass balance, a chain of custody model in which a company accounts for volumes of certified products by looking at the volumes entering the operation and the equivalent volume of products leaving the operations as a measurement, minus any processing losses. As such, the SAF is blended with conventional aviation fuel (Jet A-1) as per established industry standards and auditable bookkeeping.
Air France’s first A220-300s, part of a total firm order of 60 aircraft, have been flying on its medium-haul network since October 2021. The A220 delivers up to 25% lower fuel burn and CO2 emissions per seat compared to previous generation aircraft. For more information on the A220 Programme, visit our website.
About sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) SAF is a blended drop in fuel, certified against aviation fuel technical standards. It is a blend of a synthetic component made from renewable feedstocks and conventional fossil fuel. This blend, up to 50%, has the same characteristics as aviation fuels and are certified as such (e.g. Jet A/A1 (ASTM), Number 3 Jet Fuel (China), TS1 (Russia)).
As it is a drop in fuel, it does not require any change to the engines nor to the aircraft and its uptake and combustion has no impact on the safety of operations nor on maintenance tasks.
To be certified as “sustainable”, the synthetic blend component must comply with sustainability standards, including minimum Green House Gas (GHG) savings. Hence, the GHG savings on a Life Cycle Assessment basis is only accounted for the synthetic blend component – and not for the conventional fossil fuel. Sustainability criteria is defined by regulations like ICAO CORSIA, EU RED, and UK SAF Mandate.
To know more about Airbus’ efforts to support SAF adoption, visit our website.
PARIS, June 16, 2025 /CNW/ – Today, the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions, issued a statement congratulating Airbus and LOT Polish Airlines on their sales agreement regarding A220 aircraft.
“Global trade is more uncertain and the geopolitical landscape is shifting, but Canada is forging ahead to strengthen ties with trusted partners—and strengthening the strategic industries that will anchor our economic security for decades to come.
“Today’s announcement at the Paris Air Show about the sale of A220 aircraft to LOT Polish Airlines is great news for Canada and its aerospace workers.
“This represents another in a long list of airlines adding the A220 to its fleet, a clear signal of international confidence in Canadian innovation and industrial strength.
“The A220 is a made-in-Canada success story: designed and developed here, assembled in Mirabel, Quebec, and supported by a world-class Canadian supply chain and Canadian talent.
“This is more than an aircraft sale. It’s a testament to the strength of the Canada-Poland and Canada-EU relationship in an increasingly competitive global economy.
“The order will help create and maintain thousands of high-paying jobs across the country and reinforce global recognition for a Canadian aircraft that’s changing the game.
“This is what we mean when we say the next era is about building in Canada—with Canada.”
The initiative will help further propel Quebec and Canadian aerospace on the world stage, thus strengthening Montréal’s position as one of the major international centres in the sector.
MONTREAL, June 15, 2025 /CNW/ – McGill University and Airbus, a world leader in aviation and aerospace, are pleased to announce the signing of a strategic collaborative agreement to foster innovation, training and research in this key sector. This partnership will increase synergies between industry and academia while offering new perspectives to members of the McGill community.
A gateway to research and innovation
This partnership is based on a shared commitment to leading-edge research in strategic areas for the industry, which are also areas of expertise and development at McGill, such as sustainable aviation, urban air mobility, artificial intelligence and alternative fuels. McGill researchers will have the opportunity to collaborate with Airbus experts on innovative projects that help shape the future of the sector.
“This partnership illustrates McGill’s strength in applied research and technological innovation. By combining our expertise with that of a world leader in aeronautical and aerospace engineering, we are creating an environment conducive to scientific advances that will have a significant impact on the aerospace industry of tomorrow,” said Dominique Bérubé, Vice President, Research and Innovation at McGill University.
“Airbus and McGill share many similarities such as established credibility, the strength of multiculturalism and the ambition to be pioneers in our fields for a better world. In Canada, McGill and Airbus have been working together for several years. Many Airbus Canada employees are McGill graduates. No doubt this partnership will make a significant contribution to Airbus’s current and future services and products, and more specifically to the A220 single-aisle aircraft, which we are assembling a few kilometres from the university,” said Benoit Schultz, CEO of Airbus Canada.
Unique opportunities for students
The agreement includes a wide range of experiential learning initiatives, including internships, applied research projects, student competitions, and conferences and seminars led by Airbus experts. This collaboration will enrich the training of students and strengthen their employability in a sector undergoing transformation.
“One of the key aspects of the mandate of the McGill Institute for Aerospace Engineering (MIAE) is to provide our students with immersive learning experiences that prepare them for the technological challenges of the future,” said Viviane Yargeau, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, McGill University. This partnership opens the doors to an exceptional innovation ecosystem and allows them to acquire skills sought by the industry.”
“For an engineer, seeing fundamental research turn into real-world applications is incredibly exciting. This collaboration with McGill offers us a unique platform to bridge the gap between theory and practice, particularly on critical topics such as alternative fuels and autonomous systems. This is a direct investment in the performance and sustainability of our future products,” said Jean-François Parent, Chief Engineer for the A220 Program and a member of the McGill Institute for Aerospace Engineering Board of Directors.
A mutual commitment for the future
The agreement between McGill and Airbus also includes regular activities, such as sustainable aerospace symposia, advanced training for industry employees, and inclusion and diversity initiatives. This comprehensive approach will foster sustainable collaboration that benefits both partners.
Montreal: A global aerospace hub
This partnership strengthens Montréal’s position as one of the world’s leading aerospace centres. By collaborating with a renowned company, McGill is contributing to the growth of Quebec’s aerospace ecosystem and attracts international talent. This project is also part of Québec’s economic strategy to develop cutting-edge sectors and strengthen ties with strategic partners in Europe and internationally.
This collaboration marks a significant step in strengthening links between the academic community and the aerospace industry. Through this partnership, McGill and Airbus are joining forces to shape the future of aviation and provide students with cutting-edge training tailored to the challenges of tomorrow.
About McGill University
Founded in 1821 in Montreal, Quebec, McGill University is one of Canada’s leading universities offering medical and doctoral programs and ranks among the top universities in Canada and around the world. A world-renowned higher education institution, McGill University conducts research activities in three campuses, 12 faculties and 14 professional schools, with 300 programs of study and over 39,000 students, including more than 10,400 graduate students. It welcomes students from more than 150 countries, with 12,000 international students representing 30% of its student population. At McGill University, more than half of students have a first language other than English, and around 20% are Francophone.
About Airbus in Canada
In Canada, more than 5,000 people work at ten locations and Airbus offices and subsidiaries covering the commercial aircraft, helicopters, defence and space sectors. With a presence in Canada spanning more than four decades, Airbus has contributed to the creation of approximately 23,000 indirect jobs and supports over 850 Canadian companies, generating annual revenues exceeding C$2 billion. The A220 is the only Airbus commercial aircraft program operated outside of Europe, establishing Canada as Airbus’s largest presence beyond the European continent. Learn more about Airbus’s presence in Canada
Airbus Unveils its Brand New A220 Delivery Centre in MirabelIncreased Capacity and Customer Experience
Mirabel, Canada, 11 June 2025 – Airbus has officially opened the doors of its all-new A220 delivery centre in Mirabel, Canada earlier this year. The construction of this ~7,000 squaremeter (~75,000 square-foot) delivery centre is adding four new aircraft delivery positions – two interior and two exterior – and additional offices to receive A220 customers and delivery teams. This A220 delivery centre is now the collaborative centre for all Mirabel deliveries.
Located on the west side of the Mirabel A220 pre-final assembly line (pre-FAL), the delivery centre comprises welcome areas, conference rooms, a catering area, customer and support offices, a tarmac, and a dedicated customer parking of 30 places with easier access from the main road. The delivery centre has been designed and built with Airbus’ high5+ environmental objectives in mind. The centre has a reduced energy consumption thanks to the use of geothermal energy, aerothermal systems and low-flow equipment, among others.
“Airbus Canada plays a critical role in Quebec’s aerospace ecosystem. With this sustainable building, the company will reach its production goals for the A220 Programme, and further boost Quebec’s ranking as a world leader in aeronautics”, said Christine Fréchette, Minister of Economy, Innovation and Energy, Minister Responsible for Regional Economic Development and Minister Responsible for the Metropolis and the Montréal Region.“
This new A220 delivery centre showcases Airbus’ and Quebec’s extensive know-how to airlines worldwide, by delivering a high quality and technologically advanced latest-generation aircraft from a well-equipped centre specially designed to optimise the delivery process and accommodate our customers’ needs. The new delivery centre will allow A220 customers to enjoy the same delivery experience as in Airbus’ other delivery sites worldwide”, said Benoît Schultz, President and CEO, Airbus Canada.
In addition to this brand new delivery center building, expanded integration flight testing capability was brought to the site in 2024 and a new pre-final assembly line was inaugurated in 2022. Furthermore, operational and industrial optimisation is also being implemented in order to enable tasks to be realised in parallel and combined at work stations. Such upgrading will enable increased task flexibility and more fluidity throughout the whole line. These recent site expansions and enhancements have been implemented to support the ongoing A220 Programme ramp-up.
The A220 is the only Airbus commercial aircraft Programme headquartered outside of Europe, making Canada an instrumental part of Airbus international presence. Airbus holds 75% of the shares in Airbus Canada, and the Government of Quebec holds 25%. In Canada, more than 5,000 people work at Airbus, 4,500 of them in the province of Quebec.Combining the longest range, lowest fuel consumption and widest cabin in its class, the A220 is the most modern airliner in its size category, carrying between 100 to 160 passengers on flights of up to 3,600 nautical miles (6,700 km). As at the end of May 2025, Airbus had received more than 900 orders for the A220, of which over 415 have been delivered and contributed to carry more than 160 million passengers across the globe.
Toulouse, France, 28 May 2025 – Air Niugini, the national carrier of Papua New Guinea, has signed a firm order with Airbus for two more latest generation single-aisle A220-100s. This follows an initial order in 2023 for six aircraft. In addition, the carrier has lease agreements signed for three A220-300s from US-based lessor Azorra. The new order was disclosed as the first A220 for the airline entered final assembly at Airbus facilities in Mirabel in Canada. Gary Seddon, Chief Executive Officer of Air Niugini said: “The A220 is set to form the backbone of our domestic and regional fleet and will support economic development in Papua New Guinea. As we continue to forecast strong growth we have made the decision to increase our orders for this fuel efficient type, bringing a whole new level of efficiency and comfort for our operations.” Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, EVP Sales of Airbus’ Commercial Aircraft business said: “This is Air Niugini’s second order for the A220. We are committed to working closely with the airline as we support its fleet renewal programme. The A220 is quite simply the most efficient aircraft in its size category, with a wider and spacious cabin and the range to fly non-stop to any destination on the carrier’s network.” Combining the longest range, lowest fuel consumption, the A220 is the most modern airliner in its size category, carrying between 100 to 160 passengers on flights of up to 3,600 nautical miles (6,700 km). Depending on cabin configuration, the A220-100 serves the 100-135 seat market, while the larger A220-300 is perfectly tailored for the 120-160 seat market. The A220 is powered by Pratt & Whitney’s latest-generation GTF™ engines and offers a 25% reduction in fuel consumption and carbon emissions per seat compared to previous generation aircraft. As with all Airbus aircraft, the A220 is already able to operate with up to 50% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). Airbus aims for all its aircraft to be capable of operating with up to 100% SAF by 2030.
As at the end of April 2025, Airbus had received over 900 orders from more than 30 customers for the A220, of which over 410 have been delivered. The A220 is already in successful service with 24 operators worldwide. The fleet is currently flying on more than 1,600 routes and more than 470 destinations across the globe, confirming its leading position in the small single-aisle market.@AirNiugini @Airbus #A220 @PXPNG
