On 16th June 2025, Airbus announced via its website that LOT Polish Airlines had placed an order for forty medium-haul, narrow-body aircraft from the A220 family. That order marks the first time in history of the Polish national carrier when the company had selected an Airbus aircraft as part of its fleet modernisation programme.
Within the agreement, announced during the 2025 Paris Air Show, the LOT Polish Airlines opted for twenty aircraft in the A220-100 version and the same number of jets in the A220-300 variant, with the possibility of increasing the order to eighty-four A220 aeroplanes in the future.
‘Today’s decision is about the future. The Airbus A220 family aircraft, which will start joining our fleet in 2027, open up new opportunities for development and growth – key pillars of our strategy. These modern, efficient, and passenger-focused aircraft will allow us to compete effectively in the European skies, strengthen our position as the preferred carrier in Central and Eastern Europe, and prepare LOT for its role as a leading airline at the Central Communication Port.’ – said Michał Fijoł, LOT Executive Officer.
‘This order for 40 Airbus A220s marks a historic milestone as we officially welcome LOT Polish Airlines into the Airbus family. The A220 Family will be instrumental in LOT’s fleet modernisation and network expansion strategy with the A220-100 and A220-300 being the ideal combination for their needs. We look forward to working hand-in-hand with LOT, leveraging Airbus global expertise to support its renewal program and ensure the A220’s seamless integration.’ – said Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, Airbus EVP Sales of the Commercial Aircraft business.
The new aircraft will gradually replace the existing regional fleet of the LOT Polish Airlines, currently consisting of Brazilian Embraer 170, 175, 190, 195 and 195-E2 aeroplanes. As emphasised by the Airbus company, choosing the A220 will give the Polish airline new opportunities to develop routes and new destinations, thanks to the advantages of these aircraft.
The aeroplane was originally designed by Bombardier Aviation and developed since 13th July 2008, as Bombardier CSeries (or C series).
On 16th September 2013, the smaller variant, designated CS100, made its first flight. On 18th December 2015, the aeroplane received its initial type certificate from Transport Canada and entered service with its first operator, Swiss Global Air Lines, on 15th July the following year.
The longer version, named CS300, took-off for the first time on 27th February 2015 and received its initial type certificate on 11th July 2016. Latvian airline airBaltic was the first to introduce the Bombardier CS300 aircraft into its fleet, on 14th December 2016.
Both airlines, which were the first to introduce the Bombardier CSeries into their fleets, soon reported better-than-expected fuel burn and dispatch reliability, as well as positive feedback from passengers and crew.
In June of 2019, Airbus acquired a majority stake in the CSeries aircraft development programme through a joint venture named Airbus Canada Limited Partnership (ACLP). As a result of this transition, the aircraft was renamed A220 and became the only Airbus commercial aircraft programme managed outside of Europe.
In August of 2019, a second final assembly line for the A220 was opened at the Airbus Mobile manufacturing facility in Alabama, complementing the main facility in Mirabel, Québec.
In February of 2020, as a result of leaving the joint venture by Bombardier, Airbus expanded its shareholding in the ACLP to 75 percent, while Investissement Québec held the remaining stake.
Currently, the A220 is the most modern passenger aircraft in its size category and combines the longest range and lowest fuel consumption. It can carry between 100 and 160 passengers, on routes of up to 3,600 nautical miles (6,700 km).
Depending on the cabin configuration, the A220-100 version of the aeroplane can carry between 100 and 135 passengers. The larger A220-300, on the other hand, can offer between 120 and 160 passenger seats.
The aeroplanes from the A220 family are powered by the latest generation of Pratt & Whitney PW1500 GTF engines, thanks to which they offer 50 percent less noise compared to aircraft of the previous generation.
In addition, the A220, just like all Airbus aircraft, is capable of flying on up to 50 percent Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). The company seeks to have its aeroplanes running on 100 percent SAF by 2030.
At the end of May 2025, the Airbus company had secured more than nine hundred binding orders for the aircraft of the A220 series from more than thirty customers worldwide. More than four hundred and fifteen aircraft have already been delivered to their operators. The A220 is currently being successfully operated by twenty-four airlines worldwide, serving more than one thousand six hundred routes and more than four hundred and seventy destinations.
Cover photo: Airbus A220-100 & A220-300 PW LOT rendering.
The Airbus company press materials were used in the article.
