The passenger-favourite A220 gets an Airspace cabin

Only a few short years since its launch, the A220 has developed an outstanding reputation of providing one of the leading passenger experiences in the single-aisle market today. And it’s not hard to see why: a bright and spacious cabin with the largest windows and seats of any single-aisle aircraft, plenty of storage space and the widest seats for superior comfort.

In fact, the A220’s Net Promoter Score – a market research metric that rates respondents’ likelihood of recommending a product – is among the best in the industry wherever the A220 is operated. But all of this positive acclaim is no stroke of luck: the A220 cabin was conceptualised entirely around the passenger experience. 

“The starting point for the ‘clean-sheet’ A220 cabin design was really the passenger,” explains Jocelyn Gariépy, Airbus HO A220 Cabin and Cabin Systems Engineering. “What are their needs? What do they value most? And the answer was quite simple: plenty of space, a lot of natural light, exceptional comfort, a relaxing atmosphere and a variety of on-board services." 

A widebody feel in a single-aisle aircraft

Indeed, many of the elements that passengers value most about their onboard experience – comfort, ambience and connectivity – are the mainstays of today’s largest aircraft: the widebody. For an aircraft like the A220 – designed to be perfectly adapted to domestic, regional and international operations and on routes ranging from 30 minutes to more than seven hours – superior passenger comfort was a must. However, offering a “widebody feel” is no easy feat for an aircraft of the A220’s size. Identifying the right-sized cross section was thus key. 

For the A220, that “sweet spot” is its unique 5-abreast configuration in economy class, which offers more space than regional aircraft (4 abreast) but less density than larger single-aisle aircraft (6 abreast). On top, the A220’s sidewalls are straight – not as curved as others, thereby increasing spaciousness – and features by far the largest windows – at an impressive 11x16” –  of any single-aisle aircraft. This enables the A220 to bring in more natural light for a brighter ambience. And at one window per row, they are positioned at eye-sight level for even more comfort.

The A220’s optimal cross-section size is also ideal to welcome one of the widest economy class seats at 18.5”, as well as a wider aisle compared to its competitors. In addition, the lavatories have been ideally positioned and can be reconfigured to promote wheelchair accessibility.  

And like all modern aircraft, the A220 is equipped with the latest connectivity services, including in-seat power, WiFi and fourth-generation on-demand video. Both backseat and overhead video display options are available.

Say hello to Airspace 

While the A220 cabin has consistently been a passenger-pleaser, a major evolution is taking the experience to the next level: the arrival of Airspace, an award-winning design concept that focuses on delivering an exceptional passenger experience. Starting with deliveries in 2026, the new A220 cabin will boast the Airspace suite of innovative features, consistent with other Airbus aircraft Families such as the A350, A330neo and A320neo. 

Among the key features are the Airspace XL bins, which are 20% lighter and offer a 15% increase in bag capacity. In addition, Airspace XL bins are easier to operate – thanks to simpler mechanisms and fewer parts – for more efficient baggage loading and bin closing for crew. The simpler and lighter bins are expected to significantly improve turnaround time. 

To complement the Airspace XL bins, a new Passenger Service Unit (PSU) has been launched in line with Airspace design. And new Airspace lighting features have been introduced, including an under-bin light. The +16 million LED colours, which can be adapted to the airline’s branding and the various flight phases, create an exceptional cabin experience for passengers and are proven to help reduce jetlag by up to four hours. 

The new A220 Airspace cabin is expected for linefit aircraft later in 2026 while retrofitting will become available to A220 customers in the coming years. In addition, the A220 will see even better cabin efficiency with the launch of the 160-seat A220-300 in 2027, which will increase the aircraft’s maximum passenger capacity by about 10 seats. 

We’re so pleased to officially welcome the A220 into the Airspace family. This ensures our airline customers can offer the award-winning Airspace experience to their passengers across the full spectrum of Airbus aircraft.

 Ingo Wuggetzer, Airbus VP Cabin Marketing