MONTREAL- Canadian flag carrier Air Canada (AC) announced it will be the launch customer for the Airbus Airspace cabin on the A220 family of aircraft, delivering expanded overhead storage space to passengers.
The first aircraft featuring these new bins are scheduled for delivery in early 2026.
Air Canada A220 New Airspace Cabin
The upgraded A220 Airspace cabin will feature XL bins increasing overhead capacity by more than 15%, alongside a refreshed ceiling design and enhanced lighting. This cabin evolution coincides with Air Canada’s planned interior upgrades including updated cabin design and seat back entertainment systems.
The A220 Airspace cabin enhances the aircraft’s already impressive features with 20% larger overhead bins that are 10% lighter, improved lighting options, and redesigned passenger service units.
This upgrade allows for 15% more bag capacity—up to 19 additional passenger bags on the A220-300.
The introduction of the Airspace cabin to the A220 marks a significant evolution for an aircraft already known for offering the widest seats, aisle, and largest cabin and windows in its class.
Originally announced by Airbus in 2023, the A220 line-fit Airspace cabin is expected to begin later in 2025, with retrofitting options becoming available to existing A220 operators in the coming years.
The centerpiece of this cabin upgrade is the new Airspace XL bins design, which not only increases overall storage capacity but can accommodate longer and heavier items thanks to its innovative four-frame design. This improvement directly addresses one of air travel’s persistent pain points: overhead bin space constraints.
Executive Remarks
John Moody, Managing Director of Onboard Products at Air Canada, expressed enthusiasm about the upgrade:
The A220 has already become a favorite among our customers, and we’re thrilled to be the launch customer for the next cabin evolution of this Canadian-designed and assembled aircraft. The introduction of larger overhead bins on future A220s means more space for your belongings, quicker boarding, and an even better experience on board.”
John Moody, Managing Director of Onboard Products at Air Canada
The A220 Airspace cabin offers substantial benefits beyond passenger comfort. The simplified movable mechanisms increase reliability while reducing maintenance requirements. For cabin crew, the handling of the new fixed bins eliminates the need to lift heavy pivoting bins when rearranging luggage, significantly improving their working experience.
These operational improvements contribute to faster turnaround times, a critical factor in airline scheduling and efficiency. Additionally, the lighter bins reduce the overall weight of the cabin structure by approximately 300 pounds, directly improving fuel efficiency and operational economics.
Ingo Wuggetzer, Vice President of Cabin Marketing at Airbus, highlighted the importance of consistency across the fleet:
Through the introduction of the A220 Airspace cabin, we now enable a fully consistent passenger experience on all our platforms providing widebody comfort on single aisle aircraft.”
Ingo Wuggetzer, Vice President of Cabin Marketing at Airbus
A220 Fleet
Air Canada’s commitment to the A220 program is substantial, with total firm orders for the A220-300 standing at 65 aircraft. The airline expects delivery of its first A220-300 with the new XL bins installed by early 2026, with XL bins becoming the standard for A220 production later that same year.
The selection of Air Canada as the launch customer is particularly fitting given the aircraft’s Canadian heritage.
Designed and assembled in Mirabel, Quebec, the former Bombardier C Series program (now the Airbus A220) represents a significant Canadian aerospace achievement, making Air Canada’s role as the launch customer for this cabin enhancement symbolically important.
The aviation industry has already taken note of the A220 Airspace cabin’s innovations. The Crystal Cabin Award, widely regarded as the most prestigious honor for aircraft interior innovation, has named the Airbus A220 Airspace cabin as a finalist in the passenger comfort category, with winners to be announced on April 8, 2025, during the Crystal Cabin Award Gala.
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