Airbus aims to line up enough pre-orders for the A220-500, a larger version of the regional jet being planned by subsidiary Airbus Canada (ABK, Montréal Mirabel), to justify commencing development later this year, Reuters reported citing unnamed industry sources.

The OEM could formally announce the programme as early as the Farnborough Airshow in July, pending board approval and confirmed customer interest.

Airbus officials told financiers at the Airline Economics conference in Dublin that 2026 would be "a big year" for the A220. Conditional sales discussions are expected to open in the coming weeks, with a final launch decision hinging on commitments from two or three marquee airlines, the sources said. Potential targets include Delta Air Lines, Air Canada, and Air France, which already operate the A220.

The proposed stretched version would involve a longer fuselage without engine or wing changes, allowing airlines to reduce costs per seat while accepting a shorter range. Airbus hopes the move will boost orders, renegotiate supplier contracts, and improve the A220 programme’s profitability. The stretched design would increase capacity to 180 seats, compared with the current 110-160-seat A220 models.

A spokesperson for Airbus Canada said: "As a matter of principle we do not comment on any discussions we may or may not have with our customers. Our position on the A220 stretch is unchanged: We have repeatedly shared our conviction that a stretch would be a great addition to the market, and we are exploring all options."

She added: "We continue to focus on the ramp-up and on the in-service support to customers for the A220-100 and A220-300. In parallel, a lot of work is underway to accelerate our ability to make a decision on a stretch. The A220 is a great platform, and we continue to invest in it."