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   Airbus is quietly testing the market for a bigger A220 - and this one could   
   become uncomfortable for both Boeing and Airbus itself.   
       
   Industry sources cited by Reuters say Airbus is sounding out airlines and   
   lessors on a stretched A220-500, a version that would seat around 180   
   passengers. That puts it straight into the heart of territory currently owned   
   by the A320neo and 737-8, but with a lighter airframe and lower trip costs.   
       
   This isn't just theory. Airbus Commercial Aircraft CEO Christian Scherer has   
   already spoken positively about the idea, and lessor Avolon has confirmed that   
   multiple new aircraft programs - including an A220 stretch - are under active   
   evaluation. If the feedback lines up, a formal launch decision could come as   
   early as Farnborough in July.   
       
   Why this matters: the A220 already has a reputation for efficiency on thinner   
   routes. A -500 variant would let airlines carry narrowbody-level passenger   
   numbers without stepping up to a heavier jet, potentially reshaping fleet   
   planning for the next decade. It would also place Airbus in the unusual   
   position of competing with its own A320 family - something Boeing can't really   
   counter right now at the lower end of the market.   
       
   The A220 is currently flown by Delta Air Lines, JetBlue, airBaltic, Air   
   France, and Breeze Airways, with production split between Canada and the   
   United States. A larger version would give those operators growth without a   
   type change - and give Airbus another lever in the single-aisle war.   
       
   If launched, the A220-500 wouldn't just be a stretch. It would be a direct   
   challenge to how airlines decide what "small" and "standard" narrowbody really   
   means.   
      
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