Airbus Canada has secured a historic order from Malaysian low-cost carrier AirAsia for 150 Canadian-made A220 aircraft, marking the largest single order for the jet program in the company’s history. The multibillion-dollar agreement is being hailed as a major win for Quebec’s aerospace industry and a significant boost for Canada’s trade diversification efforts beyond the United States.
All 150 aircraft will be assembled at Airbus’s Mirabel, Quebec facility, where nearly 5,000 workers are currently employed. The first A220-300 jet for AirAsia is expected to roll off the assembly line in early 2028. Prime Minister Mark Carney attended the announcement and described the deal as a sign of strengthening economic ties between Canada and Southeast Asia.
The A220 program, originally launched by Bombardier as the CSeries before Airbus acquired a majority stake in 2018, has faced production and profitability challenges in recent years due to supply chain disruptions and manufacturing delays. Airbus executives say the company aims to nearly double production output to 13 aircraft per month by 2028 in order to reach profitability.
Industry analysts say the deal is particularly notable given global economic uncertainty and rising jet fuel prices linked to Middle East tensions. AirAsia CEO Tony Fernandes defended the aggressive expansion strategy, arguing that crises create opportunities for bold long-term decisions in aviation.
Experts say the landmark order provides important momentum for Quebec’s aviation sector, which remains a major source of employment and manufacturing investment. However, questions remain over the long-term profitability of the A220 program, especially after Quebec previously wrote down portions of its investment in the project.
