Airbus is preparing for what it calls a “historic” A220 announcement in Canada as AirAsia moves closer to a major order for the smallest aircraft in the Airbus commercial jet lineup.
The announcement is expected on May 6, 2026, at Airbus’ A220 assembly site in Mirabel, Quebec, where the aircraft program is based.
Airbus has not formally identified the customer, but multiple reports have linked the event to AirAsia and a potential order for about 150 A220 jets.
A deal of that size would rank as one of the most important orders in the history of the A220 program and would give Airbus a major win in the 100- to 150-seat market.
The A220 would add a new aircraft type to AirAsia’s fleet, which is built around the Airbus A320 family. The smaller jet would give the airline group more flexibility to open thinner routes and serve markets that may not support larger A320-family aircraft.
AirAsia co-founder Tony Fernandes has previously said the airline was studying smaller aircraft as part of a broader fleet plan. AirAsia has been reshaping its order book around new Airbus aircraft, including the A321XLR, while looking for ways to expand into new city pairs across Asia and beyond.
The A220 deal would also give Airbus a high-profile low-cost carrier customer for an aircraft that has drawn praise from operators but still seeks willing buyers.
Airbus took control of the former Bombardier C Series program in 2018 and has been working to raise output and lower costs for the A220 program.
The aircraft is produced in Mirabel for non-US customers and at Airbus’ assembly line in Mobile, Alabama, for US customers.
For Airbus, a large AirAsia order would strengthen the A220’s position against Embraer’s E2 family, which competes in the lower end of the narrowbody market. Embraer has gained momentum with recent E2 sales, putting more pressure on Airbus to broaden the A220 customer base.Malaysia
Malaysia-based AirAsia is already one of Airbus’ largest narrowbody customers. The airline group has hundreds of A320-family aircraft on order and has used the type as the foundation of its short-haul low-cost network.
The reported A220 order would not replace that role. Instead, it would give AirAsia a smaller aircraft for routes where frequency, range and trip cost matter more than maximum seat count.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is expected to attend the Mirabel event, underscoring the A220 program’s importance to Canada’s aerospace sector.
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