Airbus Launches The A220 Airspace Cabin With Air Canada

Airbus And Air Canada's A220 Collab

The Airspace cabin family welcomes the A220, which will have its inaugural flight with launch customer Air Canada. This new cabin will feature the complete Airspace suite, highlighted by the introduction of Airspace XL bins, with deliveries expected to begin in early 2026.

The A220 cabin delivers a premier Airspace experience, integrating innovative features alongside the widest seats, aisles, and the largest cabin and windows in its category. Additionally, the new bins provide a 20% increase in volume, are 10% lighter, and facilitate quicker turnarounds for the crew due to their improved handling. The cabin is enhanced with new Airspace lighting options, including an optional third LED lightstrip positioned below the bins, which adds to the overall cabin atmosphere. 

In 2023, Airbus unveiled the new Airspace cabin. Line-fit installation is anticipated in late 2025, with retrofitting available for customers in the following years. The updated Airspace XL bins will boost bag capacity by 15% - up to 19 additional passenger bags - on the A220-300 while accommodating longer and heavier items due to its four-frame design. Additionally, Airbus has developed an upgraded Passenger Service Unit (PSU) that aligns with the Airspace design, complementing the Airspace XL bins. 

John Moody, Managing Director, Onboard Product, at Air Canada, said: “The A220 has already become a favourite among our customers, and we’re thrilled to be the launch customer for the next cabin evolution of this Canadian-designed and assembled aircraft. At Air Canada, we’re always looking for opportunities to evolve our products and make travel more comfortable and convenient. The introduction of larger overhead bins on future A220s means more space for your belongings, quicker boarding, and an even better experience on board.” 

Ingo Wuggetzer, Vice President Cabin Marketing, at Airbus, said: “We are extremely happy to launch the A220 Airspace cabin with Air Canada and very proud the Canadian flag carrier is introducing our latest innovation to support its fleet renewal programme. Through the introduction of the A220 Airspace cabin, we now enable a fully consistent passenger experience on all our platforms providing widebody comfort on single aisle aircraft.” 

The A220 Airspace cabin offers several advantages: increased reliability and less maintenance due to straightforward movable mechanisms; greater passenger comfort that simplifies boarding and marks a more relaxed journey start. The crew will experience notable improvements with the new fixed bins, eliminating the need to lift heavy pivoting bins when organizing luggage. These simpler, lighter bins will not only enhance turnaround times but also decrease the cabin structure's weight by approximately 300 lbs, directly boosting airline operational efficiency and revenue. 

Following its latest reorder, Air Canada’s total firm orders for the A220-300 now stands at 65 aircraft. The national carrier anticipates receiving its first A220-300 featuring the new XL bins by early 2026, with XL bins slated to become the new standard later that year.

The prestigious Crystal Cabin Award, which recognizes excellence in aircraft interior innovation, has recently named the Airbus A220 Airspace cabin as a finalist in the passenger comfort category, aimed at providing a relaxing and enjoyable experience for travelers. Winners will be revealed during the Crystal Cabin Award Gala on April 8, 2025.