Airbus plans three-carrier A220 Airspace cabin launch

Airbus is intending a broad launch for the A220 featuring its Airspace cabin product, with deliveries spanning Air Canada, Lufthansa and Qantas.

Introduction of the Airspace configuration on the twinjet type will complete a roll-out which makes the cabin layout available across the whole Airbus range.

Speaking during the Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg on 14 April, Airbus vice-president of cabin marketing Ingo Wuggetzer said it would mean a “consistent product across the fleet”.

The airframer says the Airspace XL overhead bins will provide 20% more volume and 10% more payload.

Airbus had previously disclosed that Air Canada had signed as a launch customer for the Airspace suite on A220-300s set for delivery this year.

“You can feel the difference on that aircraft,” says Wuggetzer, adding that the “global launch plan” covering North America, Europe and Australia will encompass the Canadian carrier, along with Lufthansa and Qantas.

The airframer claims the Airspace cabin on the A220 will enhance passenger comfort, while reducing maintenance owing to simpler mechanisms.

It plans to enable retrofit on the in-service A220 fleet at a later date.

Airbus launched Airspace on the A350 with Qatar Airways in 2014, followed by Portuguese carrier TAP on the A330neo in 2018, and JetBlue Airways on the A320neo in 2021.