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AirAsia Orders 150 A220s, Overtakes Delta as Top Customer.

5/8/2026

47 5 Full Breakdown

Summary

AirAsia Orders A220

AirAsia ordered 150 Airbus A220-300 jets, valued at US$19 billion and potentially rising to US$38 billion.
The order makes AirAsia the launch customer for a 160-seat single-class cabin with an extra overwing exit.
The deal pushes the A220 programme past 1,000 firm orders and makes AirAsia the world’s largest customer, overtaking Delta.
First deliveries are scheduled for 2028 and will initially serve ASEAN and Central Asian routes.

Summary

AirAsia Expansion

Prime Minister Mark Carney says the order will support thousands of Canadian jobs.
The A220 programme remains unprofitable eight years after Airbus took over Bombardier.
Mirabel currently ships about seven jets per month and aims for 13 per month by 2028.
Delivery delays stem from supplier and labour bottlenecks and a 2023 engine defect.
AirAsia could double its purchase to 300 planes if Airbus builds the A220-500.

Summary

Airbus Stretch

CFO John Di Bert, Air France, Delta and airBaltic back Airbus's A220-500 stretch while AerCap CEO Aengus Kelly says no market.
A220-500 keeps wing, Pratt & Whitney GTF engines, adds fuselage stretch and over-wing exits, cutting range 13 % versus A220-300.
Airbus targets 13 A220 deliveries per month by 2028 after 75 in 2024, 93 in 2025 and 19 in 2026 while 22 % of the fleet was grounded for PW1500G corrosion.

History

Historical Context

In October 2017 Airbus bought a majority of Bombardier’s CSeries, rebranding it A220 in July 2018 and opening a second line in Mobile, Alabama. The move created a sizable backlog, with Delta and Air France-KLM among early large customers. Now AirAsia CEO Tony Fernandes has ordered 150 A220-300s, making the low-cost carrier the programme’s biggest single customer.

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AirAsia Orders A220

AirAsia ordered 150 Airbus A220-300 jets, valued at US$19 billion and potentially rising to US$38 billion.
The order makes AirAsia the launch customer for a 160-seat single-class cabin with an extra overwing exit.
The deal pushes the A220 programme past 1,000 firm orders and makes AirAsia the world’s largest customer, overtaking Delta.
First deliveries are scheduled for 2028 and will initially serve ASEAN and Central Asian routes.

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