Air France-KLM CE Ben Smith has indicated that the group would be interested in a stretch version of the Airbus A220, as a means of invigorating its French-based short- and medium-haul network. Smith said a recent deal covering up to 120 A220-300s – 60 orders, 30 options and 30 purchase rights – had given Air France "flexibility". If Airbus were to develop a larger version of the A220, Air France would be interested in switching to such a variant, says Smith. The A220 is available in the baseline -100 version, with capacity for 135 passengers, and as the -300, which can accommodate 160. Bombardier developed the aircraft formerly known as the CSeries – before control of the programme was transferred to Airbus in 2018 – and studied potential larger versions of the twinjet. The Canadian airframer's commercial aircraft president Fred Cromer told FlightGlobal in 2016 that the aircraft's existing wing would be capable of supporting a larger derivative. In May, Airbus disclosed a maximum take-off weight increase – available as an option from 2020 – to boost range. Smith describes the A220 as a "great tool" to restructure Air France's short- and medium-haul operations – especially the domestic network.<br/>