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Airbus is preparing to introduce significant upgrades to its A220 aircraft family, with changes set to begin in 2026. The manufacturer will equip new deliveries of the A220 with its Airspace interior, a feature already present on other Airbus models such as the A350, A330neo, and A320neo. The updated cabin will include extra-large overhead lockers that are approximately 20% lighter and offer more than 15% additional baggage capacity. Another feature is a 16-million-color LED lighting system, allowing airlines to adjust the cabin atmosphere for branding or different flight phases. Existing customers will also have the option to retrofit their current A220s with these enhancements.
In 2027, Airbus plans to offer a higher-density version of the A220-300 with seating for up to 160 passengers. This configuration aims to help operators increase revenue and reduce unit costs without requiring a larger aircraft type on certain routes. Despite ongoing speculation about an even larger variant—the A220-500—Airbus has not announced any immediate plans for its development.
The origins of the A220 trace back to its launch as the Bombardier CSeries in July 2008, designed as a narrowbody jet bridging regional jets and larger single-aisle aircraft. It first entered service under SWISS in July 2016 after certification by Transport Canada. The CS300 model followed later that year with airBaltic as the launch customer. Airbus took majority ownership in July 2018 and increased its stake further in February 2020 when Bombardier exited the program entirely.
