Air Canada adds 15 new Airbus A220-300 aircraft

Air Canada to Acquire 15 Additional Canadian-built Airbus A220-300 Aircraft (CNW Group/Air Canada)

MONTREAL — 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,” said Michael Rousseau, president and chief executive of Air Canada in a statement.

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 A220 reportedly yields 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 per cent reduction in noise footprint than previous generation aircraft.

The development and manufacturing activities of the Airbus A220 group are located in Mirabel, Que. Air Canada says that Airbus currently provides work to more than 2,500 people at its A220 headquarters and manufacturing facilities and is expected to grow to over 3,000 people in the near future.

Currently, the company produces six A220s each month and expects to produce 14 A220s monthly as the programme ramps up to reach its maximum production capacity in the middle of the decade.