Embraer acknowledged that Airbus had a strong advantage in AirAsia’s recent decision to order 150 A220 aircraft, describing the Malaysian airline’s long-standing relationship with the European manufacturer as a decisive factor in the campaign.
Speaking during Embraer’s first-quarter earnings call, CEO Francisco Gomes Neto said the Brazilian manufacturer had actively competed for the order with its E2 family but noted that AirAsia’s existing Airbus fleet created a difficult environment for a rival bid.
“They are an all-Airbus operator, so Airbus had a natural advantage there,” Gomes Neto said during the conference call.
The deal marked an important milestone for Airbus and the A220 program, which surpassed 1,000 aircraft ordered since the jet entered the market as the Bombardier CSeries more than a decade ago.
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Originally developed by the Canadian manufacturer Bombardier, the aircraft program faced severe financial pressure before Airbus acquired control of the project in 2018. Since then, Airbus has repositioned the aircraft in the market as the A220 family, produced in the A220-100 and larger A220-300 variants.
The announcement ceremony was held at Airbus’ Mirabel assembly line in Canada and attended by AirAsia CEO Tony Fernandes.
AirAsia operates an all-Airbus narrowbody fleet centered on the A320 family, making the campaign particularly challenging for Embraer despite the E2’s lower operating weight and strong fuel-efficiency claims in the regional jet segment.
Gomes Neto nevertheless indicated that Embraer viewed the competition positively and suggested the airline had seriously evaluated the E2 before selecting the A220.
The AirAsia order also represents one of the largest commitments ever secured by the A220 program and strengthens Airbus’ position in the segment between large regional jets and smaller single-aisle aircraft.
The A220-300 competes directly with Embraer’s E195-E2, while the smaller A220-100 overlaps more closely with the E190-E2. Airbus assembles the aircraft primarily in Mirabel, Canada, with additional production capacity in Mobile, Alabama.
