Airbus has announced that its A220 aircraft will receive an interior upgrade with the introduction of the Airspace cabin, a design already present in other Airbus models like the A350, A330neo, and A320neo. The Airspace upgrade aims to improve passenger experience and operational efficiency for airlines operating the single-aisle jet.
The new Airspace cabin is scheduled to be introduced in 2026, with retrofits available for older A220 aircraft in subsequent years. Additionally, Airbus revealed plans for a higher-capacity version of the A220-300, which will seat up to 160 passengers starting in 2027—an increase of ten seats over the current configuration.
The Airspace design includes features such as lighter and larger overhead bins—20% lighter and offering 15% more bag capacity than previous versions—and advanced lighting options with 16 million LED colors. Airbus claims these lighting systems can help reduce jet lag by up to four hours. The cabin also makes use of the A220’s large windows, which are bigger than those on some widebody jets, providing more natural light and better views.
Airbus Vice President Cabin Marketing Ingo Wuggetzer commented on the upgrade: “We’re so pleased to officially welcome the A220 into the Airspace family. This ensures our airline customers can offer the award-winning Airspace experience to their passengers across the full spectrum of Airbus aircraft.”
The A220 itself began as Bombardier’s C Series before Airbus acquired a majority stake in 2018 and rebranded it. Since its introduction, over 451 units have been delivered worldwide, serving more than 30 airlines including Delta Air Lines and airBaltic. Despite positive feedback from passengers regarding comfort and space, Airbus faced challenges in securing new orders for the model in recent years. Only 17 orders were placed in 2024, with none reported by March 2025; however, there remains a backlog of nearly 500 aircraft.
Jocelyn Gariépy, Head of A220 Cabin and Cabin Systems Engineering at Airbus, described the focus behind the redesign: “The starting point for the ‘clean-sheet’ A220 cabin design was really the passenger. What are their needs? What do they value most? And the answer was quite simple: plenty of space, a lot of natural light, exceptional comfort, a relaxing atmosphere and a variety of on-board services.”
Production targets for the A220 are set at up to 14 aircraft per month by 2026 if supply chain conditions allow. However, industry analysts suggest this rate may be difficult to achieve given current demand trends.
Feedback from pilots highlights both positive aspects—such as ease of use—and concerns about automation levels compared to more traditional cockpits. Passengers generally appreciate comfort but have noted distinctive engine noises during taxiing and flight.
With these upgrades aimed at enhancing customer satisfaction and aligning with broader fleet offerings from Airbus, company leaders hope that both new sales and retrofit demand will rise as airlines seek improved passenger experiences.
