In 2016, Air Canada placed an order for 45 Airbus A220-300s, followed by another one in 2022 for 15 more. The European aircraft manufacturer has struck yet another deal with Canada’s national carrier for five more aircraft of the same type. Simple math reveals the total firm orders for A220-300 rise to 65.
The latest order from Air Canada came into the equation on the fifth anniversary of taking delivery of the very first A220. The aircraft has enabled the airline to open new routes and upgrade the flying experience on existing ones across North America.
When Air Canada’s first A220 went into service in January 2020, it became the aircraft’s launch operator in North America. Since then, the A220 fleet has helped the carrier serve more than 70 destinations. The A220 plane is assembled in Canada, specifically in Mirabel, Quebec. It can ferry between 100 and 150 passengers for up to 3,600 nautical miles (6,700km) nonstop.
The Airbus A220 is powered by Pratt & Whitney’s latest GTF engines, offering a 25 per cent reduction in fuel consumption and carbon emissions per seat. Air Canada’s fleet includes 134 Airbus aircraft, including A330s and A220-300s. The airline has also placed an order for 26 A321XLR aircraft, the latest variant in the best-selling A320neo family.
