Air Canada has converted options for 15 Airbus A220-300 aircraft into firm orders, bringing to 60 the total number of the Canadian-built aircraft it will acquire for its fleet.

“This expanded order for the A220, built up the road from our Montreal headquarters, is an important development in the modernization of our fleet and a clear indication that we are emerging from the pandemic solidly positioned for the future,” says airline president and CEO Michael Rousseau. “The A220 has become a mainstay of our narrowbody fleet, and its performance and passenger comfort are enabling us to compete effectively in the North American market.”

“This third re-order for the A220 in 2022 confirms the strong confidence that airlines worldwide have for this game-changing aircraft,” says Benoît Schultz, CEO, Airbus Canada and Head of country Canada for Airbus. “With already over 30 aircraft in service in the country, this Canadian-designed and built aircraft has positively contributed to opening new routes as well as to making strides in reaching ambitious environmental goals for Air Canada – thanks to its unmatched efficiency.”

Air Canada placed its initial order for the A220, then known as the Bombardier C Series, in 2016, with a firm order for 45 aircraft and 30 options. The first A220 entered service for Air Canada in January 2020 and the airline currently operates a fleet of 31 A220s, with two more deliveries expected in 2022. Six more will be delivered in each of 2024 and 2025, with the 15 additional aircraft scheduled for delivery in 2026. All of Air Canada’s A220s are built in Mirabel.

The modern and fuel-efficient A220 is playing an important role in Air Canada meeting its commitment to reach a goal of net zero emissions from all global operations by 2050. It yields a 25% reduction in fuel consumption per seat, as well as a 25% in CO2 (carbon dioxide) emissions compared to previous generation of aircraft and NOx (nitrogen oxides) emissions that are 50% below CAEP/6 standards. The A220 also delivers a 50% reduction in noise footprint than previous generation aircraft.

The A220-300, which seats 137 passengers in a Business and Economy configuration, has accumulated nearly 120,000 flying hours for Air Canada since entering service.