Business & Money • Aviation

Airbus A220

The Airbus A220 is a family of narrow-body, twin-engine jet airliners made by Airbus and designed for the 100-to-150-seat market segment.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

The Airbus A220 is a family of narrow-body, twin-engine jet airliners made by Airbus and designed for the 100-to-150-seat market segment. It includes the A220-100 and A220-300, and it was originally developed by Bombardier as the CSeries before Airbus took over the program. The aircraft is known for its fuel efficiency, composite wing, and geared turbofan engines.

Development and naming

The A220 began as the Bombardier CSeries, a clean-sheet design developed by the Canadian manufacturer Bombardier. After Airbus took a controlling role in the program, the aircraft was rebranded as the Airbus A220 family.

Design and variants

The family includes the shorter A220-100 and the stretched A220-300. Airbus describes the aircraft as a clean-sheet design with advanced aerodynamics and modern materials, including a composite wing.

Cabin, seating, and range

The A220-100 typically seats 100 to 120 passengers, while the A220-300 typically seats 120 to 150 passengers. Maximum seating is listed at 135 and 160 respectively. The family has a range of up to 3,600 nautical miles, with the A220-100 at about 3,600 nm and the A220-300 at about 3,400 nm.

Engines and performance

Both variants are powered by two Pratt & Whitney PW1500G geared turbofan engines. Airbus highlights the type for its fuel efficiency, and the aircraft is positioned as a fuel-efficient small single-aisle jet.

Key facts

The A220 family consists of two main models: the A220-100 and A220-300.
It is designed for the 100-to-150-seat market, with Airbus describing it as purpose-built for this segment.
The aircraft uses Pratt & Whitney PW1500G geared turbofan engines.
Airbus states the A220 has a range of up to 3,600 nautical miles.

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Canadian context

The A220 has a strong Canadian connection because it was originally developed in Canada by Bombardier as the CSeries and is now produced through Airbus Canada Limited Partnership.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Airbus A220?

The Airbus A220 is a family of narrow-body, twin-engine jet airliners designed for the 100-to-150-seat market.

How many seats does the A220 have?

The A220-100 typically seats 100 to 120 passengers, and the A220-300 typically seats 120 to 150 passengers. Maximum seating is listed as 135 and 160 respectively.

What engine does the A220 use?

The A220 uses two Pratt & Whitney PW1500G geared turbofan engines.

A220 vs A320

The A220 is smaller and is aimed at the 100-to-150-seat market, while the A320 family serves a larger narrow-body market. Airbus describes the A220 as a complement to the A320 Family.

A220 range

Airbus lists the A220 family range at up to 3,600 nautical miles, with the A220-100 at about 3,600 nm and the A220-300 at about 3,400 nm.

A220 problems

The provided sources do not give a detailed list of problems. The main documented issue in the sources is that the aircraft program began as Bombardier’s CSeries before being transferred to Airbus, and new-aircraft programs often face development and certification challenges.

References

Airbus — https://www.airbus.com/sites/g/files/jlcbta136/files/2024-10/Airbus-A220-Facts-and-Figures-October-2024.pdf
Supports: Variant names, seating, range, engine type, and Airbus positioning of the A220 as purpose-built for the 100-to-150-seat segment.
Airbus — https://www.airbus.com/fr/products-services/commercial-aircraft/passenger-aircraft/famille-A220
Supports: Airbus description of the A220 family, seat segment, and range.
Airbus — https://www.aircraft.airbus.com/en/aircraft/a220/a220-300
Supports: A220-300 seating and range.
Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airbus_A220
Supports: General background on the A220, its development from the Bombardier CSeries, and range/seating figures.
AeroReport — https://aeroreport.de/en/good-to-know/airbus-a220-the-innovative-medium-haul-jet-from-canada
Supports: Variant seating, range, and PW1500G engine description.