TOULOUSE, France and MIRABEL, QC, March 25, 2025 /CNW/ – Airbus and major Canadian aerospace academic and research organisations have launched a project to measure non-CO2 emissions produced from different jet fuels, including 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

The project named Contrail Research Yielding STimulating Advanced RQL Learning (CRYSTAL) includes a ground and flight test campaign at Airbus’ Mirabel site in Canada, the A220 Programme headquarters.  The CRYSTAL project aims at measuring emissions on-wing (ground testing) and in-flight emissions and contrails at various altitudes (flight testing) using the A220 flight test aircraft. 

Both ground and flight tests will be operating on Jet A-1 and 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) to study the effects on emissions and contrail properties, and the associated climate impacts. The data generated will be used by the scientific community to improve contrail models and identify engine technology and fuels that could minimise the climate impact from contrails.

The ground tests are planned to happen as of Q3 2025 and the flight tests in 2027. YMX International Aerocity of Mirabel airport managed by ADM (Aéroports de Montréal) will support this collaboration. The CRYSTAL project will be one of the key projects under Espace Aero –  the first official Quebec aerospace innovation zone project this year.

The project includes expertise from key Canadian players such as Polytechnique Montréal, École de technologie supérieure (ÉTS) and FSM Management Group. Airbus and its partners are in discussion with government programmes including Canada’s Initiative for Sustainable Aviation Technology (INSAT) and Consortium for Research and Innovation in Aerospace in Québec (CRIAQ) to support the project. This collaboration demonstrates Airbus’ and the global and local aerospace industry’s willingness to join forces to better understand aviation emissions, so that they can be addressed in the most effective manner in the future. 

Mélanie Lussier, President of Aéro Montréal, said: “Espace Aéro is proud to see a major project take shape with CRYSTAL, driven by Airbus’ leadership and its partners. This collaborative initiative, led by CRIAQ and INSAT, perfectly reflects our innovation zone’s commitment to decarbonization and showcases how Quebec’s ingenuity and innovation are helping to shape the sustainable aviation of tomorrow. By bringing together industrial and academic players around concrete solutions, we are strengthening Quebec’s position as a leader in aerospace environmental performance.”

Martin Massé, Vice-President, Public Affairs, Communication and Sustainability, ADM, said: “ADM Aéroports de Montréal is proud to be involved in this visionary research project. For many years now, our organization has prided itself on making its facilities available to support partners in the aviation ecosystem on their journey towards net zero emissions. As a world-class aeronautical hub and innovation zone, the YMX site was the perfect place to be at the forefront of this initiative, which will ultimately enable our industry to take the next step towards decarbonizing its activities.”

Catherine Guillemart, Head of Public Affairs and Sustainability, Canada, Airbus said: “We are delighted to collaborate with world-class partners in Canada, as we are committed to supporting the aviation industry’s efforts to research on non-CO2 emissions. Increasing the scientific data to further understand the formation of non CO2-emissions remains key for the industry to understand their effects.”

CRYSTAL is an initiative similar to the VOLCAN and ECLIF3 projects previously carried out by Airbus in Europe, respectively with aircraft from the A320neo and A350 Families.

Visit our website to learn more about the Airbus Summit which includes content on Non-CO2 emissions. To know more about Airbus’ efforts to reduce Non-CO2 emissions, visit here.

Learn more about Airbus’ decarbonisation roadmap.

For more information on the A220 Programme, visit our website.

@Airbus #AirbusSummit #contrails #A220 #Canada

About Airbus in Canada
In Canada, more than 4,500 people work at ten sites and Airbus offices and subsidiaries covering the commercial airliner, helicopter, defence and space sectors. Airbus has been present in Canada for over 40 years and contributes to approximately 23,000 indirect jobs and generates more than C$ 2 billion in revenues annually for more than 850 Canadian companies. The A220 is the only Airbus commercial aircraft programme to be piloted outside of Europe, making Canada the most significant official presence of Airbus outside of Europe. To learn more about Airbus’ presence in Canada, visit the page here.

MIRABEL, QC, March 20, 2025 /CNW/ – The first sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) delivery recently took place at the Airbus Canada’s A220 site, enabling the Mirabel teams to use SAF for production, customer acceptance and test flights. This now means that all Airbus commercial aircraft assembly sites around the world are now using sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) for their internal operations.

During the course of 2025, all Airbus commercial aircraft delivery centers around the world will offer SAF to customers for ferry flights. This year alone, in 2025, over 600,000 litres of SAF with a 30% blend are expected to be used at the Airbus Mirabel site resulting in a reduction in CO2 emissions of around 400 metric tons.

Benoît Schultz, CEO Airbus Canada said, “On average, SAF can reduce CO2 emissions by up to 80% compared to traditional jet fuel. This substantial reduction is crucial to the industry’s progress towards decarbonisation by 2050. It’s a big milestone to now have our Mirabel site in Canada, as SAF capable as our other Airbus sites. It not only means we can test our A220 aircraft using SAF, but we will also be able to deliver them to our customers with SAF too.”

In 2024, 18% of Airbus global fuel mix for the year was SAF. That’s more than 16 million litres of neat SAF. Alongside this, 75% of our aircraft worldwide were delivered with SAF, representing also the importance our customers are placing on decarbonisation.

Management of SAF in Mirabel will be done using the mass balance principle. Once the SAF has been transported and delivered to Airbus Canada, it is blended with the conventional aviation fuel (CAF) also known as Jet-A1 in the Mirabel site’s fuel farm. The dilution of CAF and SAF in the fuel tanks is allowed through established standards and auditable bookkeeping. Airbus Canada has the ambition to deliver SAF Proof of Sustainability (PoS) to A220 customers receiving their aircraft from Mirabel in 2025. SAF has been used in A220 aircraft delivered from our A220 Mobile Final Assembly Line since 2016.

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.

The Airbus site in Mirabel is over 1.5 million square feet and includes, among others, a pre-final assembly line (pre-FAL), two final assembly lines (FAL), a customer response centre (CRC), a flight and integration test centre (FITC), and a brand new delivery centre. Over 3,500 Airbus employees work at this location.

Visit our website to learn more about the Airbus Summit which includes SAF.

To know more about Airbus’ efforts to support SAF adoption, visit our website.

Learn more about Airbus’ decarbonisation roadmap.

For more information on the A220 Programme, visit our website.

MIRABEL, QC, July 23, 2024 /CNW/ – Airbus and the Government of Quebec are jointly investing US$1.2 billion in the Airbus Canada Limited Partnership (Airbus Canada) in proportion to their respective share ownership and are extending their partnership until 2035. This investment by the two shareholders in the industrialization and continuous improvement of the only commercial aircraft programme designed and manufactured in Quebec is key to the success of the A220 programme. The economic benefits from Airbus and the A220 have benefited, and will continue to benefit, the Quebec economy.

The shareholders of Airbus Canada made the announcement at a press conference today at the A220 site in Mirabel, in the Laurentians, with the Premier of Quebec, François Legault, the Minister of Economy, Innovation and Energy, the Minister Responsible for Regional Economic Development and the Minister Responsible for the Metropolis and the Montreal Region, Pierre Fitzgibbon, the Member of the National Assembly for Mirabel, Sylvie D’Amours, and the Member for Les Plaines, Lucie Lecours.

Airbus holds 75% of the shares in Airbus Canada, and the Government of Quebec holds 25%. In proportion to their respective share ownership, Airbus will invest up to US$900 million and the Government of Quebec up to US$300 million, through Investissement Québec. The shareholders also agreed to extend the redemption date of the Government of Quebec’s equity interest in the partnership, from 2030 for an additional five-year period to 2035, which will give Airbus Canada time to create more value for the A220 programme, particularly as we aim to deliver 14 aircraft per month in 2026.

Quotes

“I am very proud to announce a new investment by our government in the Airbus A220 programme, a Quebec-designed aircraft which is the best in the world in its category. Today, we are consolidating the presence of Airbus, an aerospace giant, in a sector that creates enormous wealth for our nation. We are building a strong, prosperous and forward-looking economy in Quebec,” declares François Legault, Premier of Quebec.

“The A220 is the fruit of Quebec genius, and we can be proud of having developed one of the best aircraft in the world. By extending our partnership with Airbus to accelerate activities around the development of the A220 aircraft, we are securing key jobs in the Mirabel region for years to come,” says Pierre Fitzgibbon, Minister of Economy, Innovation and Energy, Minister Responsible for Regional Economic Development and Minister Responsible for the Metropolis and the Montreal Region.

“Since Airbus joined the partnership with the Government of Quebec in 2018, we have made a considerable investment in the A220 programme, in order to give this aircraft all the industrial fundamentals, processes and skills that will ensure all the success it deserves. We strongly believe in the future of the A220, one of the most technologically advanced aircraft, which is already recognized by airlines for its economic performance and reduced carbon footprint, and is also a favourite with passengers because of its innovative cabin design. Quebec has an outstanding labour force and aerospace ecosystem, and therefore has everything needed to ensure the full potential of the A220 programme,” expressed Benoît Schultz, CEO of Airbus Canada.

About the A220

The programme has experienced substantial growth. Here are some key facts and figures about the achievements of the A220 and the Mirabel site since Airbus gained majority ownership on July 1, 2018:

• The order book has more than doubled to over 900 aircraft to date.
• The number of employees has increased by 75%, including 1,600 new hires in Quebec over the last two years, for a total of 3,500 people working on the A220.
• The A220 has over 55% market share in its category, and improvements to the aircraft have been made to extend its range and increase its passenger load factor.
• 20 times more passengers have flown on the 340 A220 aircraft currently operated by airlines, for a total of 100 million passengers to date.
• Numerous industrial projects, such as the expansion of workstations, the addition of the only Airbus subassembly area outside Europe and inauguration of the A220 Flight and Integration Test Center, which began operations at the beginning of the year and ensures continuous improvement of the product. This is the second Airbus flight test center in the world, and comprises two test aircraft and aircraft test beds.
• A commitment to innovation in Quebec as a driver of sustainable growth with the creation of ten partnerships between Airbus, SMEs, research centers and universities, particularly in supporting development of sustainable aviation fuels and of studies on the recycling of aeronautical materials.

A recent study undertaken by PwC estimates that the A220 will have an economic impact in Canada of more than $40 billion over 20 years. You can access the study HERE.

For more information on the A220, visit the page HERE.

About Airbus in Canada

The A220 is the only Airbus commercial aircraft programme to be piloted outside of Europe, making Canada the most significant official presence of Airbus outside of Europe. In Canada, more than 4,500 people work at ten sites and Airbus offices and subsidiaries, 4,000 of them in Quebec. 2024 marks the 40^th anniversary for Airbus in Canada, given that its division Airbus Helicopters Canada, based in Fort Erie in Ontario, started its operations in 1984. To learn more about Airbus in Canada, click on the page HERE.

About Airbus

Airbus pioneers sustainable aerospace for a safe and united world. The Company constantly innovates to provide efficient and technologically-advanced solutions in aerospace, defence, and connected services. In commercial aircraft, Airbus designs and manufactures modern and fuel-efficient airliners and associated services. Airbus is also a European leader in space systems, defence and security. In helicopters, Airbus provides efficient civil and military rotorcraft solutions and services worldwide.

MIRABEL, QC, May 1, 2024 /CNW/ – Airbus Canada Limited Partnership (Airbus Canada) is pleased to announce that it has reached a labour agreement with the 1,300 unionized employees at its Mirabel site, in Quebec. After several months of negotiations, the employees who assemble the A220 aircraft, and who are represented by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW), ratified the tentative agreement by around 77%, including the adjustments recommended by the conciliator appointed by the Ministry of Labour.

This new employment contract positions Airbus as the leading employer of choice in the Quebec aerospace industry. The increased flexibility achieved through this agreement will facilitate a better balance between shifts and the transfer of knowledge between more experienced employees and those who have joined the company recently. This condition is essential as the  A220 production rate is ramping up.  It will enable increased efficiency in order to produce a higher number of A220s and reach the break-even point for the aircraft programme in 2026.

The new five-year collective agreement includes :

• wage increases of 23% (8%, 3% and 4% in subsequent years)  as well as a retroactive part;
• a better access to group insurance, with extended coverage;
• improved vacation policy and pension plan;
• a significant increase in evening premiums and the addition of a new exceptional evening and night premium to foster knowledge transfer.

“With this new agreement, Airbus Canada and its Mirabel employees are putting in place the winning conditions to ensure the long-term success of the A220, whose production rate is set to almost double over the next two years. We are delighted to have ratified this new agreement, so that we can continue working with our employees, whose expertise and commitment make it possible to manufacture one of the world’s best aircraft, here in Quebec,” said Benoît Schultz, CEO of Airbus Canada.

The Mirabel-based workers who assemble the A220, the latest single-aisle aircraft in its category, are essential to the aircraft’s success. The agreement reflects the mutual commitment of both parties to the long-term success of the A220, the Mirabel site and Airbus’ growing presence in Quebec.

About the A220 Family

A member of the Airbus family for over five years, the A220, designed and assembled in Quebec and acclaimed for its exceptional performance and versatility, has become a preferred choice for airlines. The A220 cuts fuel consumption and CO2 emissions per seat by 25% compared with previous-generation aircraft. With more than 325 A220s delivered to 20 airlines operating on five continents, the A220 is the optimum aircraft for offering operational flexibility on both regional and long-haul routes. To date, more than 100 million passengers have flown on the A220, and over thirty airlines have ordered more than 900 of the aircraft. A study by PwC has estimated the economic impact of the A220 in Canada at over $40 billion over 20 years. Some 3,500 people work at the A220 Mirabel site.

About Airbus in Canada

In Canada, more than 4,500 people work at the ten sites and offices of Airbus and its subsidiaries, including over 4,000 in Quebec. The main production sites are the A220 commercial aircraft programme headquarters and Airbus Atlantic Canada, both in Mirabel, Quebec, Airbus Helicopters Canada in Fort Erie, Ontario, and NAVBLUE in Waterloo, Ontario. Other Airbus sites and subsidiaries are located in Ontario, Nova Scotia and Quebec. Airbus has been present in Canada for 40 years and contributes to the creation of some 23,000 indirect jobs, and generates sales annually of around C$2 billion for some 700 Canadian companies.

(Laval, Sunday, April 21, 2024) – Members of Airbus Canada, IAMAW Local Lodge 712, rejected the proposed tentative agreement by a margin of 68,15%. Nearly 75 % of the 1,300 workers were present at the meeting.

We thought we’d met our members’ expectations with this tentative agreement, but that’s not the case,” explains Éric Rancourt, union spokesperson at the bargaining table and IAMAW Canada representative for Quebec. We’ll be in touch with the employer shortly to discuss the next steps.”

“Christian Bertrand, President of Local Lodge 712, explains: “We take good note of the vote results and the discussions we had with members today.

The tentative agreement proposed:

A 5-year contract (December 2, 2023 to December1, 2028), including salary increases of 8%, 3%, 3%, 4% and 4% per year, retroactive to December 2, 2023.

Improvements to the group insurance plan. For example, the length of service required to qualify for full coverage has been reduced from 36 to 6 months.

The deductible for drug insurance has been capped at $300 per year, per insured person, from $5 per prescription.

An increase in the lump sum paid to current and future pension plan beneficiaries.

An increase in deferred compensation from $1.35 to $1.85/hour worked. Retroactive to December1, 2021.

An increase in evening premium to $1.75/hour. Retroactive to December 2, 2023.

A framework letter on flexibility management during ramp-up.

An exceptional bonus for evening and night shifts (knowledge transfer) adding $2.00/hour to existing bonuses during the ramp-up period.

Improved access to vacation and addition of a 7th week after 30 years’ service.

The main points still in dispute in these negotiations are:

Wage increases.

Job security and outsourcing.

Work schedules.

General information on the negotiations

Start of negotiations: November 6, 2023

Date of last meeting between the parties: April 12, 2024

Total number of meetings to date: 34

This is the third offer to be presented in this negotiation. The first offer, presented on March 17, was rejected by 99. 6% of the members present (83% participation rate). The latter subsequently voted in favor of a strike mandate by 98.6%. The offer presented on April 7 was rejected by 99.9%.

This is the first collective agreement officially negotiated by Airbus since it acquired the program in 2018.

The contract expired on December 1, 2023.

Number of unionized employees at Airbus Canada: nearly 1,300.

Responsible for component pre-assembly and final assembly of Airbus A220 single-aisle aircraft.

Reuters | Fri, April 12, 2024

MONTREAL, April 12 (Reuters) – The union representing Canadian Airbus A220 workers said on Friday it reached an agreement in principle with the planemaker, with members to vote on the proposed deal on April 21.

The estimated 1,300 Montreal-area assembly workers have rejected two previous offers from Airbus, which wants to ramp up production of the money-losing single-aisle jet.

Airbus’ Canadian division said in a statement that it views positively that a negotiated tentative agreement was reached with union representatives.

“We are committed to reaching an agreement on the terms of a new collective agreement that will be positive and fair for both parties, while ensuring the long-term success of the A220,” it said.

Investment in M1 Composites Builds on Quebec’s Aerospace Excellence while sustaining hundreds of Canadian jobs and opening new opportunities to the North American aerospace market.

LAVAL, QC, April 9, 2024 /CNW/ – M1 Composites Technology Inc, a leading Quebec-based aerostructure engineering, manufacturing, and sustainment/repair company has been selected by Satair, an Airbus Services company, as the preferred North American repair station for Airbus A220 aircraft flight controls and structural parts. This contract marks a significant milestone in M1’s history and will allow the M1 Team the opportunity to support all A220 customers across North America, including some of the world’s largest airlines.

Based in Laval, M1 Composites competed against several large and well-established engineering & repair companies for this contract, which is expected to generate new jobs for the 100-person company. Satair, the distributor and interface for Airbus proprietary parts and repairs, and M1 will provide A220 operators with a comprehensive one-stop-shop aerostructure repair solution, ensuring enhanced value and efficiency for both companies.

“Our company has punched above our weight on aerostructure engineering and repairs, and this contract is validation that M1’s employees are best in class,” said Lorenzo Marandola, President & CEO of M1 Composites. “We are ready to rise to the occasion in servicing A220 customers throughout North America and strengthening Quebec’s unmatched aerospace industry in the process. We look forward to collaborating with Satair and Airbus to meet the evolving needs of its A220 customers and ensure their continued success.”

Since its first delivery to a North American operator in October 2018, the A220 aircraft has gained rapid adoption among airlines. As the North American preferred repair station, M1 Composites will ensure these operators have access to reliable and efficient aerostructure maintenance solutions. M1 is strategically situated to service current and future A220 operators in Canada and the United States, as well as continuing to service the Airbus A220 Final Assembly Lines in Mirabel, Quebec, Canada and Mobile, Alabama, U.S. Given the integrated aerospace supply chain that exists between both Canada and the U.S., M1 Composites is well-positioned to aid operators in the region with repair solutions on aero structure.

About M1 Composites:

M1 Composites Technology provides a wide range of comprehensive aerospace services including engineering, manufacturing, and repair of composite and sheet metal aerostructure components. M1 is a Transport Canada Approved Maintenance Organization (AMO), and Design Approval Organization (DAO) with numerous certifications such as ISO9001, AS9100, AS9110, and NADCAP. Our 82,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art facility houses cutting-edge equipment, including an in-house radome transmissivity test facility and a large autoclave for repairing and curing composite parts. m1composites.com