MIRABEL, QC, May 6, 2026 /CNW/ – Malaysia’s AirAsia has placed an order for 150 latest generation A220-300 aircraft. The purchase agreement is the largest single firm order placed for the A220 and propels the programme beyond the 1,000 firm order milestone, underscoring the aircraft’s global market appeal.

The contract was announced at a ceremony at the Airbus facility in Mirabel attended by Tan Sri Tony Fernandes, Chief Executive Officer of Capital A and Advisor to AirAsia Group and Lars Wagner, Chief Executive Officer Commercial Aircraft at Airbus. The event took place in the presence of the Right Honourable Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada and The Honourable Christine Frechette, Premier of Quebec.

The purchase agreement makes AirAsia a new customer for the A220. The airline also becomes the launch customer for the aircraft’s new cabin configuration of 160 seats. The increase in capacity, adding 10 seats, is made possible by the addition of an extra overwing exit on each side of the aircraft.

The A220 complements AirAsia’s existing Airbus fleet and will play a key role in advancing the Group’s network and growth. The aircraft will service destinations across ASEAN and into Central Asia, freeing up larger aircraft to fly longer routes.

“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. The A220 unlocks new markets and routes and brings us closer to building the world’s first true low-cost network carrier,” said Tony Fernandes, CEO of Capital A and Advisor to Air Asia Group. “Our partnership with Airbus spans more than two decades and has been central to everything we have achieved. Today is another milestone in that journey, and there are many more to come.”

“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 Lars Wagner, CEO Commercial Aircraft at Airbus. “Airbus and AirAsia teams have been working tirelessly to reach this landmark agreement, which is fully aligned with the airline’s new network strategy.”

Christine Fréchette, Premier of Quebec has declared : “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. I would like to commend this significant order. The investments made by our government are part of a long-term development vision, and today, we are reaping the benefits. 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 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). At the end of March 2026, 501 A220s had been delivered to 25 operators worldwide.

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.

18 December 2025

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.

11 December 2025

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.

4 December 2025

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.

24 November 2025

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.

You can watch the first episode now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOpDM3bPX1s

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.”

Stay connected

Find more services and information on the Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada website.

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