The Airbus A220 has carved out a unique space in commercial aviation. Originally developed by Bombardier as the CSeries, the program was taken over by Airbus in 2018. While the aircraft focuses on efficiency and range, one of the main elements that sets it apart from the competition is its cabin, a surprisingly large and airy space for a small single-aisle, narrowbody airliner. Since its entry into service with SWISS in July 2016 with the -100, and Air Baltic in December of that year with the -300, the A220 has become an increasingly common sight at airports worldwide. As of January 2026, there are 485 A220 family aircraft in service, with 93 being delivered in 2025.

This guide explains how both variants, -100 and -300, achieve this balance between efficiency and incredible passenger comfort. From its five-abreast layout, large windows, smart overhead bin design, and improved pressurization system, the A220 truly is a leader in its field when it comes to cabin design.

Clean Sheet Design That Put Passengers First

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From the outset, the A220 was designed with a clean sheet philosophy. The aircraft was designed to serve the 100–160-seat market and offers an impressive 25% lower fuel burn and CO₂ emissions when compared to previous-generation aircraft, according to Airbus. This allowed engineers to rethink the aircraft’s cabin design.

One of the most noticeable elements of the A220’s cabin is its five-abreast layout. With most short-haul aircraft featuring four or six-abreast configurations, this is a huge element of the aircraft’s cabin design. Clever fuselage design allowed engineers to create an airy feel in the cabin, while maintaining the minimal footprint of smaller aircraft.

By using advanced aluminum alloys and composite materials, engineers could keep the aircraft’s weight low while allowing larger windows and thinner sidewalls. This combination usually leads to first-time A220 flyers being pleasantly surprised by the environment they find themselves in.

The Five-Abreast Advantage

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The 2-3 layout of the A220’s cabin is one of its main features. While considering the five-abreast layout, it would be forgiven to think that it is a compromise between either four or six-abreast layouts. However, in practice, it offers clear advantages.

Airbus claims that the five-abreast layout allows the aircraft to feature the widest economy seats in its class. This also reduces the number of middle seats onboard. The vast majority of passengers will try to avoid the middle seats at all costs. On the A220, the chances of being seated in the middle seat are lower, but even if you are, it is actually the widest seat in the row, with middle seats being even wider than standard seats at 19 inches (48.3 centimeters).

Here is a comparison of cabins with A320ceo figures coming from Scoot.

With the A220’s capacity being between 100–160 passengers, the aircraft has a near-perfect template for airlines to use it on shorter, thinner routes where using larger jets, such as the A320, may be inefficient, but demand is too great to use smaller aircraft such as Bombardier CRJs. The A220 bridges this gap and takes full advantage of this market segment.

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Windows, Lighting And Psychology Of Space

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The A220 features the largest windows than those of any aircraft in its class. These windows are positioned slightly higher than other aircraft in its class, allowing more natural light to enter the cabin and providing better sightlines for passengers in window seats. Famously on the A220, there is also a window in the aft port-side bathroom. We previously covered this on Simple Flying, so why not check it out here.

Studies show that natural light has a measurable impact on passenger perception. Brighter spaces reduce the feeling of confinement. By installing bigger, higher windows than the competition, aircraft designers reduced the feeling of sitting in a tube and created a clear sense of space in the cabin. A lack of light can also affect humans’ circadian rhythm. This may affect our internal body clock and may also increase fatigue, something addressed later in this guide.

LED mood lighting adds to the passenger experience. Cabin crew can adjust cabin lights to suit different times of the day and phases of flight. Subtle changes in lighting are also known to affect circadian rhythm on longer flights and are a nice addition to shorter flights. It is also common to see passengers ducking whilst walking on other small regional aircraft. The A220, however, boasts the highest ceiling in its class, standing four inches taller than the nearest competition, according to Airbus. This large cabin presence creates an airy feel, all while the aircraft’s actual footprint remains generally small.

Overhead Bins And Storage Solutions

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Seats and windows aren’t the only things that create a sense of space. Storage plays a critical role in passenger comfort. The A220 features large pivot-style overhead bins, which enable passengers to bring more luggage onboard than many earlier-generation regional jets. This not only creates a sense of space for passengers but can impact the operations of the aircraft by reducing turnaround times. Aircraft don’t make money while sitting on the ground, so for airlines, the more time the aircraft spends in the air throughout the day, the better for all parties involved.

When passengers are confident that their travel plans will go smoothly, stress levels reduce significantly. Stepping onboard and taking notice of these larger bins is sure to reduce stress and improve the overall mood in the cabin, much before the aircraft has even left the parking stand.

However, it would be forgiven to think that these larger overhead bins would cause a weight or structural penalty. Logic would say there has to be some downside. Fortunately for engineers, by using lightweight alloys and thin side walls in the construction of the actual airframe mentioned above, they could afford to incorporate these overhead bins while incurring very little or no penalty in the aircraft’s physical operations.

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Fatigue Reduction And Cabin Altitude

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We as humans generally feel tired when stepping off of planes. This is mainly due to reduced oxygen entering our bodies at altitude. Essentially, our bodies have to work harder to sustain normal function, leading to fatigue. Aircraft manufacturers have been working to reduce this physical stress over recent years, and the A220 is no different.

The A220 has a lower cabin altitude than its competitors at 6,000 feet. According to Hypoxico, effective oxygen falls at rates of 0.3% to 0.9% per 1,000 feet of altitude, with the steepest changes occurring at lower altitudes. Even a slight reduction in cabin altitude can make a huge difference, with passengers stepping off the aircraft feeling more awake and refreshed. Noise can also have an effect on fatigue. The aircraft features noise-dampening materials throughout the cabin, and the airframe makes the A220 one of the quietest aircraft in the sky, further reducing passenger fatigue.

This lower cabin altitude also creates a more suitable work environment for crew who spend significantly more time onboard daily than passengers. Barotrauma is common among airline crew. This is damage to tissue in the body caused by a pressure difference between a gas-filled space inside the body, mainly the ears, and the surrounding space. Our bodies are calibrated to what is experienced most often. Taking this into account, flying is an unnatural experience, so constant variations in pressure can have lasting health impacts. Having a lower cabin altitude reduces the risk and severity of barotrauma over time because the pressure difference is lower than in older aircraft.

Airbus Airspace And The A220

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Airbus announced in September 2025 that the A220 will be receiving its new flagship “Airspace” cabin. This new cabin is expected to be linefit later in 2026, and retrofitting will become available in the coming years. The aim is simple: to provide a widebody feel to a single aisle aircraft. The main improvements in the cabin will include new XL overhead bins and a new Passenger Service Unit (PSU). These new XL bins are 20% lighter and will contain 15% more baggage space. They will also be operated more easily, resulting in reduced turnaround times. The new PSU will contain a new cabin lighting system. The +16 million LED colors, which can be adapted to the airline’s branding and the various flight phases.

Airbus is clearly pushing the envelope with innovative cabin design, and what better aircraft to do it with than the A220? It is clear why passengers and crew alike are big fans of the aircraft. Furthermore, Bombardier, through Airbus, has achieved its goal of creating an all-new aircraft for the 100-160 seat market that has ticked many boxes left unchecked by airlines in years gone by.