Airbus secured an order for up to 150 Canadian-made A220-300 aircraft from AirAsia on Wednesday [1, 2, 3].
The agreement is valued at approximately $19 billion [1]. This deal marks the largest single order for the A220 model ever recorded [4].
The aircraft will be produced at Airbus facilities in Quebec, Canada [2, 3, 5]. While the jets are assembled in Quebec, some components, including the wings, are manufactured in Belfast [6].
AirAsia, a Malaysian low-cost carrier, will utilize the A220-300s to expand its fleet [1, 2]. The scale of the purchase contributes to a growing global demand for the aircraft, with total A220 orders now exceeding 1,000 [4].
Canadian officials said the agreement is a significant boost to the domestic aerospace sector [3, 5]. The deal is intended to help diversify Canadian trade and reduce economic reliance on the U.S. [5].
Industry reports on the exact number of aircraft vary slightly. While most sources cite 150 jets [2, 3], some reports indicate a figure of 120 [6].
“The deal for up to 150 Canadian-made A220 aircraft is the largest single order for the jet model to date.”
This agreement underscores the growing competitiveness of the A220 in the narrow-body market and serves as a strategic economic win for Quebec's aviation hub. By securing a massive order from a Southeast Asian carrier, Canada demonstrates a shift toward diversifying its high-value exports beyond its traditional North American trade corridors.
