Air Canada made history on December 20, 2019, when they took delivery of the first Canadian designed and built Airbus A220-300. The aircraft was revealed to the media and employees in a public ceremony at the company’s Montreal HQ a few weeks later.
On Friday (December 20, 2024), Air Canada celebrated five years of Airbus A220 operations by announcing they have exercised options for five more, expanding their fleet total for the type to 65. The carrier made history on December 20, 2019, when they took delivery of the first Canadian designed and built Airbus A220-300. A few weeks later, the carrier revealed the aircraft to the public in a ceremony at their Montreal headquarters, allowing media and team members to have a first-hand look at the new aircraft, which has become a key component of Air Canada’s single-aisle fleet renewal program.
In Friday’s announcement, Air Canada’s Vice President of Network Planning and Scheduling – North America, Alexandre Lefevre, said,
“The A220 for us is an aircraft that is very versatile and very efficient, which only adds to the pride we have to be flying an aircraft built by Canadians. The future of the A220 at Air Canada is very exciting. It’s a future of growth that will bring with it new routes and an excellent passenger experience, making it a cornerstone of Air Canada’s narrowbody fleet renewal.
“The efficiency and economics of the A220 have enabled Air Canada to expand its network across North America with routes that were simply not commercially viable with the previous generation of aircraft. The versatility of the aircraft allows it to do both short or long-haul segments across North America and to some Caribbean destinations.”
Commenting on the A220-300s performance, Air Canada’s EVP and Chief Financial Officer, John Di Bert, said,
“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 routes with an aircraft that has the right economics to support our profitable growth strategy. It is also very popular with customers. We are pleased to add an additional five of these aircraft, built in Mirabel, Quebec, right up the road from our Montreal headquarters and to further support Canada's aerospace sector.”
Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, Airbus’ EVP Sales - Commercial Aircraft, added,
“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 programme. The A220 is the most efficient aircraft in its size category, offering superior comfort with a spacious cabin and the range to fly numerous destinations on the carrier’s network.”
Air Canada's Airbus A220-300 Fleet by the Numbers - Courtesy Air Canada
Providing insight into what it is like to pilot an Airbus A220-300, Air Canada’s Captain and Check Pilot, Captain Ian Beauchemin, said,
“The first word that comes to mind when thinking about flying the A220 is ‘easy’. It’s an aircraft that is very intuitive, with well-designed systems that are not complicated for pilots. We have access to a ton of information that is easy to see and analyze. I am extremely proud to be able to fly an aircraft that was built only a few kilometres from my base in Montreal. That it was built here, with all the engineering done in Quebec and Canada, and to fly this aircraft for the country’s flag carrier, I couldn’t be happier or prouder.”
Video Introducing Air Canada's Airbus A220-300 - Courtesy Air Canada
Air Canada’s first Airbus A220-300, Fin 101, was registered as C-GROV in honor of former Air Canada Prersident and CEO, Calin Rovinescu. The aircraft off for its maiden passenger revenue flight on January 16, 2020, with service from Montreal to Toronto. Air Canada was the first North American airline to operate the A220-300, and remains the only Canadian airline to operate the type. Air Canada’s A220-300s are configured with 12 Business Class and 125 Economy Class seats, and features more space, larger windows, color ambient and mood lighting. Additionally, the aircraft features a Panasonic IFE system at every seat, as well as satellite-based high speed Wi-Fi. The Airbus A220 is assembled in Mirabel, Quebec, supporting a vibrant Canadian aerospace sector with over 4,000 jobs.
With the combination of the longest range, lowest fuel consumption and widest cabin in its class, the Airbus A220 can carry 100-150 passengers on flights up to 3,600 nautical miles (6,700 km). Powered by Pratt & Whitney GTF engines, the A220 offers a 25 percent reduction in fuel consumption per seat. Like all Airbus aircraft, the A220 can currently operate with up to 50 percent SAF, and Airbus plans for all of their aircraft to be 100 percent SAF capable by 2030.
At November 30, 2024, Air Canada’s fleet included 134 Airbus Aircraft, including A320 Family, A330 Family, and A220-300 aircraft. Air Canada also currently has 26 A321XLRs on order. Airbus has received nearly 900 orders from 32 customers for the A220, of which 380 have been delivered. The fleet is currently serving more than 1,500 routes and over 460 destinations worldwide.
Source(s): Air Canada, Airbus