AirAsia orders 150 Airbus A220-300 aircraft
According to an Airbus press release, Malaysia's AirAsia has ordered 150 of the latest-generation A220-300 aircraft, becoming a new customer for the program. This is the largest single firm order in A220 history and also the order that pushed the program's total firm orders past the 1,000-aircraft mark.
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Airbus announced the contract at a ceremony held at its plant in Mirabel, Canada. Attendees included Tony Fernandes, CEO of Capital A and advisor to the AirAsia Group, and Lars Wagner, head of Airbus Commercial Aircraft. The event was also attended by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Quebec Premier Christine Frechette.
The order also makes AirAsia the launch customer for the new A220 cabin version with 160 seats. The extra ten seats compared with the previous configuration are made possible by adding another emergency exit over the wing on each side of the aircraft.
According to Airbus, the A220 will complement AirAsia's existing all-Airbus fleet and play a key role in the group's network development and growth. The aircraft are set to serve destinations in the ASEAN region and Central Asia, freeing up larger aircraft for longer routes.
Tony Fernandes described the order as a reflection of AirAsia's long-term discipline and the scale of its ambitions, saying the A220 opens up new markets and routes and brings the company closer to building the world's first truly low-cost network airline. He also noted more than two decades of cooperation with Airbus.
Lars Wagner said the A220 will give AirAsia an optimal platform combining low operating costs with the range needed to open new routes across Asia and beyond, adding that the deal fits perfectly with the carrier's new network strategy.
- Order
- 150 x A220-300
- Program milestone
- over 1,000 firm orders
- New cabin
- 160 seats
- Range
- up to 3,600 NM (6,700 km)
- Delivered by 3/2026
- 501 aircraft, 25 operators
- Announcement venue
- Mirabel, Canada, 6 May 2026
According to Airbus, thanks to its combination of the longest range, lowest fuel burn and widest cabin in its class, the A220 is the most advanced aircraft in this size category, seating 100 to 160 passengers with a range of up to 3,600 nautical miles (6,700 km). By the end of March 2026, 501 A220 aircraft had been delivered to 25 operators worldwide.
Airbus adds that, like all its aircraft, the A220 can already fly today on a fuel blend containing up to 50% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), and that the manufacturer's goal is to enable all its aircraft to operate on 100% SAF by 2030.
Those interested in the A220 type and in AirAsia can continue to track its flights and aircraft in the overviews on map.flights.