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Airbus A220

Airbus / Bombardier · Canada · Modern (1992–2009)

Airbus A220 — Fixed Wing
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The Airbus A220, originally designed and built by Bombardier as the C Series (CS100 and CS300), is a narrow-body single-aisle airliner for the 100–160 seat market. Bombardier launched the programme in 2004, targeting the gap between 50-seat regional jets and the 150-seat Airbus A320 family. The CS100 made its first flight in September 2013 and entered service with Swiss International Air Lines in July 2016, becoming the first all-new clean-sheet aircraft in the 100-seat class since the 1980s.

The A220 is powered by two Pratt & Whitney PW1500G geared turbofans, each producing 23,300 lbf. The geared turbofan's gear reduction between fan and low-pressure compressor allows each component to spin at its optimum speed, cutting fuel burn by 20% compared to engines of the same thrust class without a gearbox. The A220-300 reaches a maximum speed of Mach 0.82 and a range of 3,900 miles with a maximum take-off weight of 156,305 lb — sufficient for transatlantic service on thinner North Atlantic routes. Service ceiling is 41,000 ft. List price is $96 million per aircraft.

Airbus acquired a 50.01% controlling stake in the C Series programme in October 2017, when Bombardier faced a U.S. Department of Commerce tariff investigation triggered by Boeing — Boeing alleged Bombardier was selling below cost to Delta Air Lines. Airbus rebranded the aircraft A220-100 and A220-300 in July 2018, giving the programme access to Airbus's sales network, supplier leverage, and customer support infrastructure. Bombardier's final stake was purchased by Airbus in February 2020, making the A220 fully Airbus-owned. Production is split between Mirabel, Quebec (primary) and Mobile, Alabama (for U.S. customers), with final assembly in both countries.

With 501 aircraft delivered by 2026 and a backlog exceeding 850 firm orders, the A220 has proven that the 100-150 seat narrowbody segment holds commercially viable long-range demand. Delta Air Lines is the largest customer with over 100 aircraft. Air France uses A220-300s to replace aging A318s and A319s. JetBlue, Air Tanzania, and airBaltic — the launch customer for the CS300/A220-300 — operate the type on domestic and short-haul international routes. The A220 directly competes with the Boeing 737 MAX 7 and the Embraer E195-E2.

For Kids — a shorter, friendlier version

The Airbus A220 was first built by a Canadian company called Bombardier. It was named the C Series. Airbus took over the programme in 2018 and renamed it the A220. It carries between 100 and 160 passengers on shorter flights.

The A220 stretches about 38 metres from nose to tail — as long as three school buses end to end. It uses special geared turbofan engines made by Pratt and Whitney. These engines have an extra gear inside. This lets the fan and the turbine each spin at the best speed. The result is a quieter engine that uses less fuel.

The cabin is wider than on many jets this size. Rows have two seats on one side and three on the other. There is no middle seat in the two-seat rows. Windows are bigger than usual too, letting in more light.

Airlines across the world fly the A220. Air France, Swiss, and Delta are big operators. The A220 proved a new company could build a jet and compete with Airbus and Boeing.

Fun Facts

  • The A220 was originally called the Bombardier C Series — built by a Canadian company.
  • Airbus took over the programme in 2018 and renamed it the Airbus A220.
  • Its geared turbofan engines have an extra gear inside, making them quieter and more fuel-efficient.
  • Rows inside the A220 have two seats on one side and three on the other — no dreaded middle seat in a two-seat row.
  • The A220 cabin is unusually wide for a plane its size, giving passengers more elbow room.
  • Over 500 A220s have been delivered to airlines across five continents.

Kids’ Questions

What is a geared turbofan engine?

A normal jet engine has all its spinning parts — the big front fan, the compressor, and the turbine — connected in a row on the same shaft. The problem is that the front fan works best spinning slowly while the turbine works best spinning fast. A geared turbofan adds a gearbox in between, like the gears on a bicycle, so the fan can spin slowly and the turbine can spin fast at the same time. This trick makes the engine much quieter and burns roughly 20 percent less fuel than older engines.

Why was the A220 such a big deal for Bombardier?

Bombardier was known for making smaller business jets and trains. Building a brand-new commercial passenger jet means competing directly with Airbus and Boeing — two of the biggest and most experienced companies in the world. The C Series required billions of dollars of investment and years of work. It ran into money problems, which is why Airbus stepped in. The design itself was excellent, and the A220 is now one of the most popular jets in its size class.

Variants

A220-100 (ex-CS100)
Shorter fuselage, 100–125 seats, range 3,450 miles, MTOW 139,110 lb. Launch customer Swiss International Air Lines, July 2016.
A220-300 (ex-CS300)
Stretched fuselage, 130–160 seats, range 3,900 miles, MTOW 156,305 lb. Launch customer airBaltic, December 2016. Main production variant.
A220-500 (proposed)
Further-stretched variant under study with approximately 180 seats. No launch order confirmed as of 2026, but Airbus and airlines have discussed feasibility for high-density short-haul markets.

Notable Operators

Delta Air Lines
Largest A220 customer; operates A220-100 and -300 on domestic U.S. routes replacing older MD-88s and 717s.
Air France
Replaced A318 and A319 on short-haul European routes with A220-300.
Swiss International Air Lines
Launch customer for the CS100 (now A220-100); first commercial service July 2016 on Zurich–London.
JetBlue
Operates A220-300 as its domestic and Caribbean narrowbody, replacing E190s.
airBaltic
Launch customer for the CS300 (A220-300), December 2016; operates a fleet of over 50 for Baltic region and short-haul European routes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did Airbus buy the Bombardier C Series?

Boeing filed a U.S. trade complaint in 2017, alleging Bombardier sold C Series jets to Delta Air Lines at below-cost prices, injuring Boeing's 737 line. The U.S. Department of Commerce proposed a 300% tariff. Airbus offered Bombardier a majority stake in the programme, routing final assembly through Airbus's Mobile, Alabama facility — which, as a U.S. plant, exempted deliveries from the proposed tariff. The U.S. International Trade Commission ultimately rejected Boeing's complaint in January 2018, but by then Airbus had acquired control.

How does the A220 compare to the <a href="/v/boeing-737-max.html">Boeing 737 MAX</a>?

The A220-300 seats 130–160 passengers in single-class versus 189 (high density) for the 737 MAX 8 — the A220 serves thinner routes where a 737 would fly half-empty. The A220 is lighter (MTOW 156,305 lb vs. 181,900 lb for the MAX 8) and burns less fuel per seat on short sectors under 1,000 miles. The MAX family is better suited to medium-haul trunk routes and commands a larger global maintenance network.

What engine does the A220 use?

Both A220 variants use the Pratt & Whitney PW1500G, a geared turbofan with a gear ratio of 3:1 between the fan and low-pressure spool. This allows the fan to turn at 3,000 rpm while the booster compressor runs at 9,500 rpm, each at its aerodynamic optimum. The result is 20% lower fuel burn and 75% lower noise footprint than previous engines of equivalent thrust at 23,300 lbf.

How many A220s have been built?

Airbus delivered 501 A220s through 2026, with a combined backlog exceeding 850 firm orders. Peak production rate at Mirabel and Mobile combined reached 14 aircraft per month in 2025. Delta Air Lines alone ordered 100 aircraft, and Air France ordered 60 A220-300s in 2021.

Where is the A220 manufactured?

Primary final assembly is at Bombardier's original plant in Mirabel, Quebec, Canada. A second line in Mobile, Alabama began deliveries in 2020 primarily for U.S. customers including Delta and JetBlue. Components are manufactured in Quebec, Belfast (wing), and by suppliers across Europe, Japan, and the United States.

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