Air Canada has announced it has ordered 15 Airbus A220-300 aircraft, bringing to 60 the total number of the Canadian-built aircraft it will acquire for its fleet. The order converts options the carrier had in place with Airbus.
"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. 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," said Michael Rousseau, President and Chief Executive of Air Canada.
The A220-300 seats 137 passengers in a Business and Economy configuration and drastically reduces fuel consumption for the airline.
"We are also proud to support the Canadian aerospace industry. This increased order will support jobs at Airbus' Mirabel factory and affirms Air Canada's positive economic impact in Montreal, Quebec and throughout Canada."
"This third re-order for the A220 in 2022 confirms the strong confidence that airlines worldwide have for this game-changing aircraft," said 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 says that 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." According to Air Canada and Airbus, it provides a 25 per cent reduction in fuel consumption per seat, as well as a 25 per cent reduction in CO2 (carbon dioxide) emissions compared to previous generation of aircraft and NOx (nitrogen oxides) emissions that are 50 per cent below CAEP/6 standards. The A220 also delivers a 50% reduction in noise footprint than previous generation aircraft.
"Today's announcement is important for our entire aviation sector. Not only will this advance Air Canada's modernization program, but it will also contribute to making the sector greener while creating good jobs for Quebecers and all Canadians," said the Honourable Omar Alghabra, Minister of Transport.
"This is great news for our economy and for Canada's aerospace industry. As we cement Canada's position as the green supplier of choice for the sector, Air Canada has chosen to advance the modernization of their program for more fuel-efficient fleet using Canadian businesses and workers. This means thousands of well-paying jobs in Mirabel, Quebec and throughout the entire Canadian aerospace supply chain," said François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry.
The first A220 entered service for Air Canada in 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.
For additional information on the A220 for Air Canada, please visit this page.
