TOULOUSE- On December 20, 2024, Airbus received orders from Air Canada (AC) for five A220s and Lufthansa (LH) for one A350-1000.
This is Air Canada’s third order for A220s, and Lufthansa’s second.
Air Canada Orders A220 Aircraft
Air Canada has extended its commitment to the Airbus A220 program by acquiring five more A220-300 aircraft. The announcement comes five years after the airline received its first A220 delivery in December 2019.
Air Canada’s recent acquisition adds to the company’s strategic investment in the A220 program, which began with a 45-aircraft order in 2016 and will be expanded with 15 more jets by 2022. The new agreement increases Air Canada’s overall A220-300 commitment to 65 aircraft.
Air Canada’s Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, John Di Bert, stated:
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, EVP Sales Commercial Aircraft at Airbus said:
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.”
First A220 Operator in North America
Air Canada became North America’s first A220-300 operator in January 2020, increasing its network to serve over 70 destinations with the aircraft. The A220’s manufacture in Mirabel, Quebec, is directly integrated with Canada’s aerospace industrial infrastructure.
The A220 tops its market segment in performance measures, carrying 100 to 150 passengers over distances of up to 3,600 nautical miles (6,700 kilometers). Its cabin is the most spacious in its class while using the least amount of fuel.
The aircraft’s Pratt & Whitney GTF engines reduce fuel consumption and carbon emissions by 25% per seat. The A220 presently operates on up to 50% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), with Airbus aiming for 100% SAF capability across its fleet by 2030.
Air Canada now operates 134 Airbus aircraft, including the A320 Family, A330 Family, and A220-300 types. The airline has an extra order for 26 A321XLRs, boosting its Airbus fleet.
Airbus has received roughly 900 A220 orders from 32 clients through November 2024, with about 380 deliveries completed. The A220 serves 23 global operators, with over 1,500 itineraries and 460 destinations.
Lufthansa Orders 5 A350-1000
Lufthansa Group has expanded its A350-1000 aircraft order from ten to fifteen, with deliveries expected between 2028 and 2030.
The expansion represents an investment of about $2 billion at list prices, putting Lufthansa Group among the world’s largest A350 customers, with a combined fleet of 60 A350-900s and 15 A350-1000s.
Carsten Spohr, Chairman of the Executive Board and CEO of Deutsche Lufthansa AG said:
Our today’s order underscores our great confidence in our long-standing, close and successful partnership with Airbus. With the state-of-the-art A350 long-haul jets, we are accelerating the largest fleet modernization in our history. We are investing more than ever before in our history to make air transport more sustainable, to achieve our CO₂ reduction targets and at the same time offer our customers the highest level of comfort with a first-class travel experience.
Including today’s order, the Lufthansa Group has ordered 770 aircraft from Airbus throughout its history and is proud to be the Airbus’ largest customer worldwide. With the upcoming integration of ITA Airways in January, the Airbus fleet of Lufthansa Group Airlines will grow by another 100 short- and long-haul aircraft.”
The Lufthansa Group placed an order for ten A350-1000 aircraft in March 2023, with deliveries beginning in April 2026. This type, with 73.8 meters in length, has approximately 15% more capacity than the A350-900.