Airbus chooses Leonardo to produce part of the fuselage of the A220
The sites will be in Nola and Pomigliano d'Arco. The first unit is expected in 2027. The commitment in the production of the A321 fuselage will also increase
by Mara Monti
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Leonardo has been awarded the production of the rear fuselage section of the Airbus A220, the single-aisle regional aircraft from the Toulouse-based manufacturer recognised for its efficiency and sustainability. The announcement was confirmed by Valerio Moro, the new CEO of Airbus Italy, during a meeting with the press, a contract that consolidates the strategic collaboration between the two companies. The award by Airbus of the new and strategic order to the Italian group's Aerostructures Division is part of a long-term programme since the regional aircraft by the end of April 2025 has a portfolio of over 900 orders from more than 30 customers, of which over 410 have already been delivered. Production is currently being increased to 14 aircraft per month by 2027, depending on the capacity of the supply chain.
The assignment strengthens the relationship between Leonardo and the European civil aviation giant and will result in an important workload for the Campania plants, particularly those in Pomigliano d'Arco and Nola: the former will be dedicated to engineering, the latter will host actual production.
The Times
.Activities are scheduled to start after the summer, with the definition of contracts with suppliers, which are functional to the industrialisation of the new section. The completion of the first unit is scheduled for 2027, but the plan foresees progressive growth, with at least seven units in the next 24-30 months. Airbus estimates a monthly rate of 14A over the next few years. For Leonardo, this reinforces its presence in the A220 programme, where the company is already the sole supplier of the vertical and horizontal composite stabilisers, produced in Foggia.
"This is a new chapter in a long-standing and strategic collaboration with Leonardo, one of our main partners in Italy," said CEO Valerio Moro, emphasising that Airbus is "proud to contribute to the development of territorial technological excellence, safeguarding production capacities and offering further opportunities to the local supply chain.
The order also consolidates Leonardo's position on the global aerostructure scene: the production of fuselages for the A321, Airbus's best-seller, has been one of the Italian industry's leading specialisations for decades, and the know-how gained at the Campania production sites was decisive in Airbus's choice. In 2024, Airbus delivered 602 aircraft of the A320 family, up from 571 in 2023.
