AirAsia has signed the largest firm order in the history of the Airbus A220 program by ordering 150 A220-300 aircraft. With the agreement, the A220 program surpassed the milestone of 1,000 aircraft orders, while AirAsia aims to expand across ASEAN and Central Asia.
As the A220 program exceeded the 1,000-order threshold, AirAsia shifted into a higher gear in its low-cost network model
Malaysia-based AirAsia has placed an order for 150 next-generation A220-300 aircraft. The purchase agreement represents the largest single firm order ever placed for the A220 and enabled the program to surpass the milestone of 1,000 firm orders, highlighting the aircraft’s strong appeal in the global market.
The agreement was announced during a ceremony held at Airbus facilities in Mirabel. The event was attended by Capital A CEO and AirAsia Group Advisor Tan Sri Tony Fernandes and Airbus Commercial Aircraft CEO Lars Wagner. The ceremony took place in the presence of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Quebec Premier Christine Frechette.
With the purchase agreement, AirAsia became one of the newest customers of the A220. The airline also became the launch customer for the aircraft’s new 160-seat cabin configuration. The additional 10-seat capacity was made possible through extra overwing emergency exit doors added on both sides of the aircraft.
The A220 will complement AirAsia’s existing Airbus fleet and play a key role in the Group’s network structure and growth. The aircraft will serve destinations across ASEAN countries and Central Asia, allowing larger aircraft to be deployed on longer routes.
“We built AirAsia by making bold decisions at the right time, not during easy times. This order reflects our long-term discipline and the scale of our ambitions. The A220 opens up new markets and routes for us and brings us even closer to our goal of building the world’s first truly low-cost network carrier,” said Capital A CEO and AirAsia Group Advisor Tony Fernandes. “Our partnership with Airbus has lasted for more than two decades and has been at the heart of every success we have achieved so far. Today marks another milestone in this journey, with many more to come.”
“For AirAsia, the A220 will provide the ideal platform by combining low operating costs with the range needed to open new routes across Asia and beyond,” said Airbus Commercial Aircraft CEO Lars Wagner. “The Airbus and AirAsia teams worked with great dedication to reach this historic agreement, which is fully aligned with the airline’s new network strategy.”
Combining the longest range in its class, the lowest fuel consumption, and the widest cabin, the A220 is the most modern passenger aircraft in its segment. The aircraft can carry between 100 and 160 passengers and operate flights of up to 3,600 nautical miles (6,700 km). As of the end of March 2026, a total of 501 A220 aircraft had been delivered to 25 operators worldwide.
Like all Airbus aircraft, the A220 is already capable of operating with up to 50% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). Airbus aims for all of its aircraft to be capable of operating with 100% SAF by 2030.
