Airbus has confirmed that it is not looking to launch a stretched version of its A220 jet in the current environment. Speculation of an imminent launch at the Paris Airshow circulated on Wednesday after a Bank of America note suggested it would be announced there. However, an Airbus spokesperson said that the A220-100 and A220-300 are priority and they are not looking to launch a new sub-model in the current environment.
A larger version of the A220 program, acquired from Bombardier in 2018, would help lower total production costs but eat into a market currently served by the 150-seat A320neo. Most industry sources expect an A220-500 launch to be closer to the middle of the decade. Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury has indicated that resolving industrial delays is the planemaker’s top priority amid continued pressure on small suppliers.