Major Order for Airbus A220 Wings Made in Belfast
Malaysian airline Air Asia has placed an order for 120 Airbus A220 aircraft, whose wings are manufactured in Belfast. This represents the largest single order ever for the A220 model and pushes total orders for the aircraft beyond 1,000 units.
In addition to producing the wings, the Airbus facility in Belfast also manufactures the mid-fuselage, or centre section, of the A220 aircraft body.
Significance of the Belfast Airbus Plant
The Airbus plant is considered one of Northern Ireland's most vital manufacturing sites, employing approximately 1,500 people and supporting additional jobs within the local supply chain.
Airbus acquired the factory in 2025 as part of a broader transaction that resulted in the division of Spirit Aerosystems. Meanwhile, rival aerospace manufacturer Boeing purchased some of Spirit's Belfast assets and currently employs the majority of the 3,500 staff working at the site.
Investment and Competitiveness
Earlier this year, Airbus Chief Executive Guillaume Faury emphasized the company's financial commitment to Belfast to facilitate the increase in A220 production capacity.
"It's very important to be successful on the ramp-up, to be with a high level of quality, and to be competitive.
That's what we want for Belfast, but we count as well on the employees and the management of Belfast to contribute to the A220 and to be with a front foot forward to contribute to a good program."
Air Asia's Strategic Expansion
Tony Fernandes, the entrepreneur behind Air Asia, highlighted the benefits of the A220 fleet for the airline's growth strategy.
"The A220 unlocks new markets and routes and brings us closer to building the world's first true low-cost network carrier,"
he added.
Potential New Airbus A220 Variant
Within the aerospace industry, there is speculation that Airbus is preparing to announce a "stretch" version of the A220. The current A220 model accommodates up to 160 passengers, while the proposed stretched variant could increase capacity to nearly 200 seats.
