en.Wedoany.com Reported - Airbus plans to officially launch the A220-500 project in 2026, expanding its entry-level narrowbody product line through a "simple stretch" approach, with initial deliveries expected around 2032.

According to internal sources at Airbus, the company may disclose plans to launch a market assessment to initial potential customers at this month's Farnborough Airshow, with a formal launch of the A220-500 targeted by the end of 2025. Bloomberg reported on this during the Paris Air Show in June 2025. Guillaume Chevasson, head of Airbus Canada, reiterated at a media event in Mirabel that the A220-500 will be achieved through a "simple stretch," without changes to the engine or wing design. According to Leeham News, this approach will involve adding fuselage sections forward and aft of the wings, expanding maximum cabin capacity to 185 seats with a range of up to 2,900 miles. Due to the added weight, the A220-500's range is 700 miles shorter than that of the A220-300. Airbus previously evaluated a long-range variant called the "A221," which would have featured a dedicated engine and wing, but this option was reportedly abandoned in 2025 due to poor cost-effectiveness.

The A220-500 has already attracted interest from current and future operators. Air France is seen as a potential launch customer; Air Asia has already ordered 150 A220s and is considering the A220-500 as a replacement for its A320 fleet. According to Leeham News, the A220-500 could begin deliveries to initial customers from 2032.

Airbus aims to increase production of the A220 program to achieve profitability while alleviating pressure on the A320neo production line, which has been in high demand. In terms of production scheduling, Airbus plans to allocate more capacity to the higher-margin A321neo, A321LR, and A321XLR models. Airbus acquired the original C Series program from Bombardier in 2018 and rebranded it as the A220.