Air Canada has placed a new firm order with Airbus for the acquisition of five additional A220-300 aircraft, bringing its total orders for this model to 65 units, including previous orders. This announcement coincides with the fifth anniversary of the delivery of the airline’s first A220, received in December 2019. Its current A220 fleet consists of 34 aircraft, making it the fifth-largest operator of the model worldwide.

The A220-300, assembled in Mirabel, Quebec, has been highlighted by Air Canada as a cornerstone of its growth strategy. “The A220 has delivered on its promises for Air Canada in its five years in service. It has allowed us to open new routes and better serve existing ones with an aircraft that has the right economics to support our profitable growth strategy. It is also very popular with customers,” said John Di Bert, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Air Canada.

Air Canada was the launch operator of the A220-300 in North America in January 2020 and has since operated the fleet across more than 70 destinations. According to Airbus, the A220 is recognized for its fuel efficiency, offering a 25% reduction in emissions and consumption per seat, powered by Pratt & Whitney’s latest-generation GTF engines.

The A220, capable of carrying between 100 and 150 passengers on flights of up to 6,700 kilometers, is already certified to operate with up to 50% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). Airbus has stated its goal of enabling all its aircraft to run on 100% SAF by 2030.

Air Canada has pending orders with Airbus for 26 A321XLRs and 26 A220-300s, according to data available as of November 2024. Now, an additional five A220s have been added to this total.

“This is Air Canada’s third order for the A220 in a few years. We are committed to working closely with the flag carrier as we support its fleet renewal program,” said Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, Executive Vice President of Sales for Airbus.

Globally, Airbus reports that, as of November 2024, it has received nearly 900 orders for the A220 from 32 customers, with 380 units delivered. The aircraft is successfully operating with 23 airlines, serving more than 1,500 routes and 460 destinations worldwide, solidifying its position as a leader in the small single-aisle market.