At the same time as the acceleration of the production rate and the reduction of the costs of the A220, Airbus is discussing with the Chinese authorities so that the aircraft is certified in this market.
It is not “impossible” to see the plane obtain this permission to fly in Chinese airspace next year, believes the president and CEO of Airbus Canada, Benoît Schultz, at the controls of the former C Bombardier Series since September.
“Certification is a long-term job and is carried out over several years,” he explained on Tuesday on the sidelines of a speech to the Council of International Relations of Montreal (CORIM). Yes, we started. ”
Offered in two versions (A220-100 and A220-300), the Airbus aircraft can carry up to 160 passengers. In comparison, the ARJ21 from Chinese manufacturer COMAC can accommodate between 70 and 90 people, while the capacity of the C919 fluctuates between 168 and 190 passengers.
The trade press has suggested that the A220 could be an attractive option for some Chinese airlines operating in the western part of the country.
“The Chinese market is several markets in one,” said Mr. Schultz. We have demonstrated on other continents (the performance of the aircraft) on similar routes. We believe that the Chinese market may be interested. ”
Mr. Schultz made no allusion to the geopolitical tensions between Canada – the main assembly line of the A220 is in Mirabel – and China and the possibility that this situation could slow or hinder a possible certification in this. country.
Last September, Comac forecast a demand for 9,100 new aircraft in China by 2040. The aircraft manufacturer estimates the requirements at nearly 6,300 aircraft in the single-aisle segment with more than 120 passengers.
As a sign of some recovery in the industry, the A220 has secured a firm order for 10 A220-300s from Nigerian airline Ibom Air. Air Lease Corporation also signed a letter of intent to add 25 more aircraft to its fleet.
Controlled by Airbus, the program, still in deficit, is also owned by the Quebec government (25%). Airbus is gradually stepping up the production rate of the A220. The aircraft manufacturer aims to assemble 14 per month, for a total of 168 annual deliveries, to Mirabel and Alabama around 2025.