Airbus Bets on a Stretched A220 Jet to Beat Boeing’s 737
Altering an existing plane could save the company billions of dollars compared with developing a new one—but it risks cannibalizing sales of its mainstay A320.
Airbus has added production space at its A220 plant in Mirabel, Quebec, as it ramps up production.
Photographer: Graham Hughes/BloombergThe Airbus A320 set its manufacturer on the path to becoming the world’s largest aircraft producer. Crisscrossing continents since the late 1980s, the single-aisle jet boasts advanced aviation controls such as joystick steering and a choice of engines from competing manufacturers that have made it an industry favorite alongside the Boeing 737, bringing in the bulk of orders and profit at the European aerospace giant.
Now, Airbus SE is studying a new airliner that could eclipse the three-decade-old A320. A stretched version of its smaller A220 jet, the model would accommodate about the same number of passengers as the 170-capacity A320, but with better fuel economy and more modern design specifications, while allowing the company to sidestep the huge investments needed for an all-new aircraft.