Airbus Asia Training Centre (AATC) will add an A220 Full-Flight Simulator (FFS) at its Singapore campus to meet the growing demand for pilot and maintenance training for the A220 aircraft in the Asia Pacific region. The simulator is scheduled to become operational in the fourth quarter of 2027. AATC, a joint venture between Airbus and Singapore Airlines, will operate the simulator and manage training delivery.
The A220 Training Services programme will be carried out in partnership with Flight Training Alliance (FTA), the Airbus Authorised Training Provider for the A220. FTA is a joint venture between CAE and Lufthansa Aviation Training. Under the agreement, FTA will deploy the Full-Flight Simulator, while AATC will manage its operations and provide training to airline customers. The announcement was made at the Asia Pacific Aviation Training Summit 2026 in Bangkok.
Silvia Meloni, General Manager of Airbus Asia Training Centre, said establishing A220 training capabilities in the region will support Airbus’ growing presence in Asia Pacific. She said the new simulator will give airlines easier access to training facilities and allow pilots to complete training closer to their home bases. The facility is also expected to support the entry into service of A220 aircraft across the region.
AATC and FTA will offer A220 flight crew type-rating and recurrent training. The programme will be supported by certified A220 flight instructors and operations technicians. The new simulator comes as the A220 fleet continues to expand in Asia Pacific and other markets. Airbus said the aircraft is designed to serve routes where airlines require a smaller single-aisle aircraft with long-range capability.
The A220 can fly up to 3,600 nautical miles, or around 6,700 km, and offers between 100 and 160 seats. Airbus says the aircraft provides 25% lower operating costs per seat compared with previous-generation aircraft. The aircraft is expected to support airlines as urbanisation and economic activity expand beyond traditional major cities, creating demand for new connections between smaller cities and regional markets.
As of the end of July 2026, Airbus had delivered 532 A220 aircraft to more than 25 operators worldwide. Total orders for the aircraft programme had crossed 1,100 units.
The new simulator will add to AATC’s existing training infrastructure at Seletar Aerospace Park. The centre is one of the largest Airbus flight crew training facilities in the world and provides type-rating and recurrent training for Airbus aircraft currently in production. AATC currently has 10 Full-Flight Simulator bays. Four are dedicated to the A350, two to the A320 and one each to the A330 and A380. Another bay houses an ATR 72-600 simulator produced through a partnership between Airbus and Leonardo.
The centre also has six fixed cockpit training devices and extensive classroom facilities. Its infrastructure can support training for up to 10,000 trainees each year. The addition of the A220 simulator will expand the range of aircraft training available at the Singapore facility and provide airlines in Asia Pacific with local access to specialised A220 training.Airbus said the new facility will form part of its wider effort to provide training and support closer to airline customers as the A220 fleet grows in the region.
