Malaysian airline, Air Asia, has placed a landmark order for 150 Airbus A220s, marking the single largest order ever made for the aircraft type and pushing total global orders beyond 1,000 units. The deal, valued at a list price of around $19 billion, highlights strong demand for the fuel-efficient jet, although the final price paid is expected to be lower due to industry discounts.
Air Asia deal marks record-breaking demand for A220
The order represents a significant expansion for Air Asia, with CEO, Tony Fernandes, stating that the A220’s range will enable the airline to open new routes and expand its network into previously unserved or less efficient markets, according to the BBC. He said the aircraft’s efficiency and flexibility would help the airline strengthen its position across short and medium-haul operations while moving closer to its long-term goal of becoming a…
“true low-cost network carrier.”
Fernandes reported to the BBC, that the new fleet could support a shift in the airline’s strategy from point-to-point regional services to a more connected hub-and-spoke model, allowing passengers to travel across a wider network with improved connectivity and lower operating costs.
In addition, Air Asia has expressed interest in a potential stretched version of the aircraft, which could increase seating capacity from around 160 to approximately 200 passengers.
Belfast Airbus plant at the centre of production growth
The aircraft wings and mid-fuselage sections for the A220 are produced in Belfast at a key manufacturing site operated by Airbus, making the Northern Ireland facility central to the programme’s global supply chain. The plant employs around 1,500 people directly and supports many more jobs across the wider local manufacturing network.
Airbus acquired the Belfast operation in 2025 as part of the restructuring of Spirit AeroSystems assets, while rival manufacturer Boeing also took ownership of other parts of the site. Together, the facility now supports thousands of jobs in one of Northern Ireland’s most important industrial hubs.
Airbus Chief Executive, Guillaume Faury, has previously emphasised the importance of increasing competitiveness and production efficiency in Belfast as the company invests heavily in scaling up A220 output.
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