AirAsia orders 150 A220 aircraft.
AirAsia of Malaysia has ordered 150 of the newest A220-300 aircraft. The purchase deal highlights the aircraft’s appeal to a worldwide market by being the greatest single firm order placed for the A220 and pushing the program above the 1,000 firm order milestone.
On trips up to 3,600 nautical miles (6,700 km), the A220 can accommodate 100–160 passengers. Twenty-five operators worldwide had received 501 A220s by the end of March 2026.
Tony Fernandes, Chief Executive Officer of Capital A and Advisor to AirAsia Group, and Lars Wagner, Chief Executive Officer of Commercial Aircraft at Airbus, attended the announcement of the deal during a ceremony held at the Airbus site in Mirabel. Christine Frechette, the premier of Quebec, and Mark Carney, the prime minister of Canada, attended the occasion.
On trips up to 3,600 nautical miles (6,700 km), the A220 can accommodate 100–160 passengers. Twenty-five operators worldwide had received 501 A220s by the end of March 2026.
AirAsia is now an A220 customer thanks to the purchase deal. Additionally, the airline becomes the first user of the aircraft’s unique 160-seat cabin arrangement. An additional overwing exit on each side of the aircraft allows for a 10-seat increase in capacity.
The network and expansion of the group will be greatly aided by the A220. In order to free up larger aircraft to fly longer trips, the aircraft will service destinations throughout ASEAN and into Central Asia.
Fernandes, CEO of Capital A and advisor to Air Asia Group, stated, “The scope of our goals and our long-term discipline are reflected in this sequence. The A220 opens up new markets and routes and moves us closer to creating the world’s first true low-cost network carrier. Everything we have accomplished has been made possible by our more than 20-year cooperation with Airbus. There are many more stops along the way, and today is just one more.”
According to Wagner, CEO of Commercial Aircraft at Airbus, “the A220 will provide an ideal platform for AirAsia, combining low operating costs with the range that will enable the carrier to open new routes across Asia and beyond. To reach this historic agreement, which is fully aligned with the airline’s new network strategy, Airbus and AirAsia teams have been working tirelessly.”
The A220 runs on up to 50% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), just as all Airbus aircraft. By 2030, Airbus wants all of its aeroplanes to be able to run at up to 100% SAF.
