AirBaltic welcomes its 45th Airbus A220 jet

The Latvian carrier airBaltic has welcomed a new state-of-the-art Airbus Aircraft A220-300 to its fleet this week.  The jet, registered YL-ABS is the 45th beautiful addition to the airline's single-type fleet. Thus far the airline has carried 13 441 000 passengers, completed over 150 000 flights, and flown 328 000 block hours on the type.  

airBaltic is looking forward to an exciting future by continuing to grow with Airbus, the recent purchase agreement for an additional 30 aircraft is a significant step toward this. 

 

Qantas completes incremental order for nine more Airbus A220 aircraft

Qantas has just finalised an incremental order for nine Airbus A220-300s, taking its backlog for the single-aisle type to 29 aircraft. The A220 was originally selected by Qantas as part of a major fleet replacement programme announced in May 2022, which also included orders for the A321XLR and A350-1000. The carrier had announced its intention to order the additional A220s in February this year.

Qantas will take delivery of its first A220 at the end of this year and will operate the type primarily on its extensive domestic route network. Combining latest generation technologies and a wider, quieter cabin for extra comfort, the A220 can fly further than other aircraft in its size category, while also bringing a step-change reduction in fuel consumption and emissions. 

Christian Scherer, Airbus Chief Commercial Officer and Head of Airbus International said: "We are pleased to announce this incremental order from Qantas. Best in class, the A220 will be the perfect platform for a domestic network that includes everything from short hops to flights of five hours and beyond. Combining efficiency, comfort and longer range, the A220 will also contribute from Day 1 to the carrier’s far-reaching Climate Action Plan.”

airBaltic welcomes 42nd Airbus A220-300 and completes Asia demonstration tour

Recently Latvian carrier airBaltic welcomed its 42nd Airbus A220-300 jet, registered as YL-ABP, in Riga. This was the third Airbus A220-300 delivery for airBaltic in 2023. It is a part of the 50 Airbus A220-300 that airBaltic has ordered. In addition, airBaltic holds 30 options and purchase rights for the same aircraft type.

Thus far, airBaltic has carried more than 11 600 000 passengers on the Airbus A220-300 aircraft. Airbus A220-300s of the airline have completed nearly 133 000 flights and flown over 289 000 block hours.

Since May 2020, airBaltic operates all its flights with a single aircraft type – Airbus A220-300, thus minimizing the complexity and benefiting from the additional efficiency provided by the aircraft.

The airline has also recently completed a demonstration tour of Asia along with partners Airbus.  The A220-300 was shown off to prospective customers and media and industry representatives. 

The Airbus A220-300 has performed beyond the company’s expectations, delivering better overall performance, fuel efficiency and convenience for both passengers and the staff. This aircraft offers an excellent flying experience with such benefits for passengers as wider seats, larger windows, more hand luggage space in the cabin, improved lavatories and much more.

The Airbus A220-300 has a high-quality air filtering system equipped with High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) type filter that provides the best level of filtration currently available for recirculated cabin air from the very beginning of boarding, during entire flight and until all passengers have left the aircraft. The quality of cabin air is carefully controlled and is recirculated with ventilation rates that provide a total change of air 20-30 times per hour. 

In addition, the aircraft is also considerably quieter – with a four times smaller noise footprint. Moreover, at the moment it is the greenest commercial aircraft in the world, as it is the first aircraft to have a transparent declaration of the life-cycle environmental impact, helping to reduce CO2 and NOX emissions by 20% and 50% respectively.

airBaltic's top destinations in February from Riga were Tenerife, Munich and London

The Latvian national airline airBaltic has reported that its top destinations from Riga in February were Tenerife, Munich, London, and Brussels. 

Recently the government-funded carrier's focus has been on providing passengers with a wide range of travel options to more popular holiday and leisure destinations which has led to an increase in passenger numbers. In addition, flights to Paris, Berlin, Helsinki, and Amsterdam, operated by airBaltic, also ranked among the most favoured routes from Riga in February.

airBaltic provides flights to more than 70 destinations from Riga, Tallinn, Vilnius and Tampere, offering connections to a wide range of destinations in the airline's route network in Europe, Scandinavia, the CIS and the Middle East. A complete schedule of airBaltic flights and tickets are available on the company's homepage at www.airbaltic.com.

airBaltic operates 40 Airbus A220-300 aircraft - formally known as the Bombardier CSeries CS300, its 40th jet arrived earlier this month after a special ceremony in Montreal and is adorned with a special Latvian flag livery.  airBaltic has received numerous international awards for excellence and innovative services. In 2018 and 2019 airBaltic received the ATW Airline Industry Achievement Award as the Market Leader of the Year. In addition, in 2019 airBaltic received Sector Leadership Award by Airline Business.  airBaltic is a joint stock company that was established in 1995. Its primary shareholder is the Latvian state, which holds 97.96% of the stock, while the rest of the shareholders hold 2.04%.

The airline has added Apple Pay to its range of payment options. With this addition, airBaltic continues to demonstrate its commitment to providing customers with a variety of payment options, ensuring that booking a flight is a seamless process.

Regarding the 40th Airbus A220-300s arrival, Martin Gauss, President and CEO of airBaltic: “More than six years ago, airBaltic became the global launch operator of the A220-300 aircraft. Over the years, the aircraft type has grown to be the backbone of our operations, and we continue to be a proud ambassadors of it. These years have shown a great collaboration and friendship between us as the national airline of Latvia and our partners in Canada, therefore we are glad to be here today, celebrating this aircraft and all the work we have done together. It is an incredible pride and honour to have this aircraft be a part of our growing fleet of A220-300s.”

Rob Dewar, Senior Vice President, Customer Satisfaction, Services, and A220 Product Policy at Airbus Canada: "The unveiling of airBaltic's 40th A220-300, which will be proudly flying in the colours of the Latvian flag, is an important moment for us all at Airbus Canada. This aircraft symbolises a long-standing collaboration and continued partnership with airBaltic as we are pursuing our shared journey to bring passengers the most sustainable and comfortable flying experience. The A220 has reached over 1 million flight hours and connected more than 70 million passengers thus far.”

Voyager Aviation Holdings has delivered Its second new Airbus A220-300 in 2022 and announces 5 more A220 jets on a sale and leaseback deal with Breeze Airways

Voyager Aviation Holdings has confirmed that it has recently delivered another new Airbus A220-300 on long-term lease to Breeze Airways and agreed to provide five more aircraft under a further sale and leaseback deal.

“We are delighted to celebrate the delivery of our second A220 to Breeze in 2022 and to further reinforce our long-term partnership with five additional aircraft.”

David Neelman, Breeze's Chief Executive Officer, stated, “We appreciate the continued support of Voyager Aviation with their commitment to finance five additional future A220 deliveries.”

“We are delighted to celebrate the delivery of our second A220 to Breeze in 2022 and to further reinforce our long-term partnership with five additional aircraft,” continued Hooman Yazhari, VAH Executive Chairman. “The transaction underscores the strength of our partnerships and aligns with our strategy to continue the diversification of our portfolio in aircraft types and new airline partnerships. The A220 is the perfect aircraft for Breeze’s operations; we look forward to working closely together with Breeze as one of our key partners, and as they grow their incredible business.”

This is VAH’s second A220 delivery from Airbus’s U.S. Manufacturing Site. The A220 is the only aircraft purpose-built for the 100-150 seat market and brings together state-of-the-art aerodynamics, advanced materials and Pratt & Whitney’s latest-generation geared turbofan engines. The A220 delivers up to 25% lower fuel burn and CO2 emissions per seat compared to previous-generation aircraft, and 50% lower NOx emissions than industry standards. In addition, the aircraft noise footprint is reduced by 50% compared to previous generation aircraft - making the A220 a good neighbour around airports.

Breeze Airways began service in May 2021. One year later, it was ranked as the No. 2 U.S. best domestic airline of 2021 by Travel + Leisure World's Best Awards. Breeze now offers 121 nonstop routes between 35 cities in 20 states. Founded by aviation entrepreneur David Neeleman, Breeze operates a fleet of Embraer 190/195 and Airbus A220-300 aircraft, with a focus on providing efficient and affordable flights between secondary airports, bypassing hubs for shorter travel times. 

Croatia Airlines signs firm order for six A220 aircraft

Croatia Airlines, Croatia’s national flag carrier based in Zagreb, has signed a firm order for six A220-300 aircraft. Croatia Airlines plans to lease an additional nine A220s, taking its total commitment for the type to 15.

The A220s will replace previous generation aircraft in the company's fleet, reducing operating costs as well as improving environmental efficiency and competitiveness while offering passengers unrivaled comfort throughout its fleet.

Today’s signing of a contract for the purchase of state-of-the-art Airbus aircraft is a very special moment for all of us at Croatia Airlines. It marks the beginning of a new period of aviation, a new period in the life of Croatia Airlines, a new period for our passengers, and a new period for Croatia’s tourism and the economy as a whole,” said Jasmin Bajić, CEO and President of the Management Board of Croatia Airlines.

“We are thrilled to add Croatia Airlines as a new A220 customer. The A220 is ideally suited to Croatia's aviation needs, providing operational flexibility and efficiency allowing its airline to pursue its ambition for both regional and international connectivity without compromising on any aspect, be it passenger comfort or trip and seat cost economics,” said Christian Scherer, Airbus Chief Commercial Officer and Head of International.

Breeze Airways, is adding two new routes from Westchester County Airport (HPN) this week

Breeze Airways, is adding two new routes from Westchester County Airport (HPN) nonstop to both Los Angeles, CA, and Sarasota-Bradenton, FL, from just $109* and $74* one way, respectively. Just five months after its first flight from HPN, Breeze now flies to nine destinations from the airport, more than any other airline.

Nonstop Flights to:

Charleston, SC**

Jacksonville, FL

Los Angeles, CA** (Daily, starting November 2, from $109* one way);

Nashville, TN

Norfolk, VA

Sarasota-Bradenton, FL (3x weekly, starting November 2, from $74* one way)

Savannah, GA

Vero Beach, FL

BreezeThru Flights (one stop/no plane change) to:

New Orleans, LA

“As a former resident, I know first-hand that HPN is the most convenient New York-area airport for many travelers!” said David Neeleman, Breeze Airways’ Founder and CEO. “However, before Breeze, there was very limited commercial service – especially nonstop flights. Now Westchester and Fairfield County residents can save time and money when flying to the West Coast and beyond.”

Breeze offers a la carte and bundles options so Guests may select and customize a travel experience that meets their needs. The Nicest bundle is only available on flights operated with an Airbus A220-300 aircraft and includes a First Class-style seat in a two-by-two configuration.

Seat pitch for a Standard Economy seat is 30 inches on the A220s and 31 inches on the E-195s, while seat pitch for Extra Legroom is 32 inches on the A220s and between 34 and 39 inches on the E-195s, depending on the row selected. First Class seats feature 39 inches of seat pitch, 20.5 inches of seat width, and special features, such as a footrest, for added comfort and in-seat AC power and USB/C ports.

*Promotional fare is only available when booking a new reservation. Supply is limited and not available on every flight/every day. Promotion must be purchased by November 30, 2022 (11:59 pm ET), for travel from January 8 through May 16, 2023. Price displayed includes taxes and government fees. Fare prices, rules, routes and schedules are subject to change without notice. Black-out dates include February 18-26 and April 1-9, 2023. Other restrictions may apply.

** Route operated by Airbus A220 aircraft

Air Canada to acquire 15 more Airbus A220-300 jets

Air Canada announced this week that it has converted options for 15 Airbus A220-300 aircraft into firm orders, bringing to 60 the total number of the Canadian-built aircraft it will acquire for its fleet.

"This expanded order for the A220, built up the road from our Montreal headquarters, is an important development in the modernization of our fleet and a clear indication that we are emerging from the pandemic solidly positioned for the future. The A220 has become a mainstay of our narrowbody fleet, and its performance and passenger comfort are enabling us to compete effectively in the North American market," said Michael Rousseau, President and Chief Executive of Air Canada. "We are also proud to support the Canadian aerospace industry. This increased order will support jobs at Airbus' Mirabel factory and affirms Air Canada's positive economic impact in Montreal, Quebec and throughout Canada."

"This third re-order for the A220 in 2022 confirms the strong confidence that airlines worldwide have for this game-changing aircraft," said Benoît Schultz, CEO, of Airbus Canada and Head of country Canada for Airbus. "With already over 30 aircraft in service in the country, this Canadian-designed and built aircraft has positively contributed to opening new routes as well as to making strides in reaching ambitious environmental goals for Air Canada – thanks to its unmatched efficiency."

"Today's announcement is important for our entire aviation sector. Not only will this advance Air Canada's modernization program, but it will also contribute to making the sector greener while creating good jobs for Quebecers and all Canadians. Investments like these are helping our aerospace industry grow, innovate and prosper for Canadians," said the Honourable Omar Alghabra, Minister of Transport.

"This is great news for our economy and for Canada's aerospace industry. As we cement Canada's position as the green supplier of choice for the sector, Air Canada has chosen to advance the modernization of their program for more fuel-efficient fleet using Canadian businesses and workers. This means thousands of well-paying jobs in Mirabel, Quebec and throughout the entire Canadian aerospace supply chain," said François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry.

Air Canada placed its initial order for the A220, then known as the Bombardier C Series, in 2016, with a firm order for 45 aircraft and 30 options. The first A220 entered service for Air Canada in January 2020 and the airline currently operates a fleet of 31 A220s, with two more deliveries expected in 2022. Six more will be delivered in each of 2024 and 2025, with the 15 additional aircraft scheduled for delivery in 2026. All of Air Canada's A220s are built in Mirabel.

The modern and fuel-efficient A220 is playing an important role in Air Canada meeting its commitment to reach a goal of net zero emissions from all global operations by 2050. It yields a 25 per cent reduction in fuel consumption per seat, as well as a 25 per cent reduction in CO2 (carbon dioxide) emissions compared to previous generation of aircraft and NOx (nitrogen oxides) emissions that are 50 per cent below CAEP/6 standards. The A220 also delivers a 50% reduction in noise footprint than previous-generation aircraft.

The development and manufacturing activities of the Airbus A220 Family are located in Mirabel, Quebec. Airbus currently provides work to more than 2,500 people at its A220 headquarters and manufacturing facilities and is expected to grow to over 3,000 people in the near future.

There are currently 6 A220s produced each month and 14 A220s are expected to be produced monthly as the programme is currently ramping up to reach its maximum production capacity in the middle of the decade. 

U.S. budget Breeze to launch 8 Las Vegas routes in 8 weeks

Breeze Airways, the budget airline founded by aviation entrepreneur David Neeleman (pictured below), which began flying operations in May 2021 is adding eight new routes to Las Vegas (LAS) in the next month – and putting the destination on sale from 11 cities, with fares starting from just $29* one-way.

Breeze is now selling flights to Las Vegas from 11 cities across the U.S.:

Richmond, VA (Thurs and Sun, on sale from $99* one way for travel from October 26 through February 14);

Syracuse, NY (Fri and Mon, on sale from $110** one way for travel from November 1 through February 14);

Fort Myers, FL (Wed and Sat, on sale from $124** one way for travel from November 1 through February 14);

Hartford, CT (Wed and Sat, nonstop starts September 7, on sale from $69* one way for travel from October 26 through February 14);

Jacksonville, FL (Thurs and Sun, route starts September 8, on sale from $122*** one way for travel from November 1 through February 14);

New York/Westchester (Thurs and Sun, route starts September 8, on sale from $99**** one way for travel from September 20 through October 2);

Huntsville, AL (Fri and Mon, route starts September 9, on sale from $99* one way for travel from October 26 through February 14);

Norfolk, VA (Fri and Mon, route starts September 9, on sale from $145*** one way for travel from November 1 through February 14);

Akron-Canton, OH (Thurs and Sun, route starts October 6, on sale from $159*** one way for travel from November 1 through February 14);

Provo-Salt Lake City, UT (Thurs, Fri, Sun and Mon, route starts October 6, on sale from $29* one way for travel from October 26 through February 14); and

Charleston, SC (Thurs and Sun, nonstop route starts November 3, on sale from $99* one way for travel from November 3 through February 14).

Breeze will operate all Las Vegas new routes with its fleet of Airbus A220s. Breeze has ordered 80 new Airbus A220-300 aircraft, that will be delivered one per month over the next six years, with options for 40 more.

“We’re betting our Guests are going to love all this new service to Las Vegas,” said Tom Doxey, Breeze’s President. “With our affordable nonstop flights from so many cities, now more people than ever can take a long weekend and visit the Entertainment Capital of the World!”

“The investment Breeze is making in Las Vegas speaks to the enduring allure of this destination,” said Rosemary Vassiliadis, Clark County Director of Aviation. “With these and other coming new routes, Breeze has identified several unserved LAS markets and will soon make it even easier for travellers from across the country to fly to Las Vegas.”

Phoenix to become another destination with twice-weekly service to both Charleston and Provo for Breeze Airways.

Phoenix, Arizona is to become another new destination for Breeze Airways, the budget airline set up by David Neeleman, with twice-weekly service from both Charleston, South Carolina and Provo, in Utah. 

Breeze also is adding another four routes between existing cities, with twice-weekly service between Charleston and Los Angeles; thrice-weekly flights between Westchester and Nashville, TN; twice-weekly service between New York/Westchester, NY, and Sarasota-Bradenton, FL; and weekly service between Tampa, FL, and Syracuse, NY.

“Breeze always seeks to connect cities which have previously had no nonstop service,” said Breeze’s Chief Operating Officer Michael Wuerger. “Charleston, our largest base, is one of the largest routes from Phoenix without existing nonstop service today, so we’re excited to announce the first nonstop to connect these two fantastic destinations.”

Breeze has ordered 80 new Airbus A220-300 (formally known as the Bombarder C Series CS300) aircraft, that will be delivered one per month over the next six years, with options for 40 more. When flying on the A220 aircraft, Guests may choose from three price bundles that are offered as ‘Nice,’ ‘Nicer,’ and ‘Nicest.’

Breeze’s business model, which focuses on providing fast, efficient, and affordable air service between underserved city pairs, has continued to expand its footprint across the U.S. using mid-sized aircraft, such as the A220-300. The airline doesn’t charge change or cancellation fees up to 15 minutes prior to departure and offers other benefits such as free family seating and a la carte pricing and upgrades including premium seating.

Six new Airbus A220-300 aircraft for TAAG Angola Airlines

Today one of the leading aircraft leasing firms,  Air Lease Corporation confirmed a deal for six new Airbus A220-300 aircraft leased long-term to TAAG Angola Airlines. These planes will come from ALC's existing order book with Airbus and are scheduled to arrive between 2023 and the end of 2024 

“ALC is pleased to announce this significant lease placement for six new Airbus A220s with TAAG and be the first to introduce Airbus aircraft to the airline,” said Steven Udvar-Házy, Executive Chairman of Air Lease Corporation.  “The capabilities of the A220-300 will greatly enhance TAAG’s operational efficiency and expanding route network with the most modern, fuel-efficient aircraft.”

“The A220-300 with its fuel efficiency, range and improved operating economics will progressively replace TAAG’s Boeing 737-700 fleet and allow the airline to optimize and broaden its flight schedule coverage and destinations from Luanda,” said Kishore Korde, Executive Vice President of Air Lease Corporation.

“Today we start our relationship with ALC incorporating six new Airbus A-220-300 into our fleet.  It’s indeed a significant announcement for us as we are celebrating a new era and a new vision for TAAG.  We are alive, back in business, breaching with the past to achieve greater results and becoming a reference for Africa. This partnership emphasizes our commitment to grow and further improving our credibility among international stakeholders while creating a new value proposition for our passengers,” said Eduardo Fairen, CEO of TAAG. 

airBaltic has launched direct flights between Tampere and Amsterdam

Latvian Government-backed airBaltic has launched direct flights between Tampere and Amsterdam, with the service operating twice a week on Wednesday and Sunday.

Martin Gauss, Chief Executive Officer of airBaltic: “We opened our Tampere base a month ago, and now continue to improve the connectivity provided to and from this dynamic city. So far the demand from Finnish passengers has met our expectations.”

airBaltic performs direct flights from Tampere to Oslo (Norway) and Copenhagen (Denmark), Frankfurt, Munich (both Germany) and Amsterdam (Netherlands) as well as sunny leisure destinations Malaga (Spain) and Rhodes (Greece) in addition to continuing flights to Riga (Latvia).

Towards the end of last month,  the carrier welcomed its 36th Airbus A220-300 jet, registered as YL-ABJ, in Riga. This is the fourth of eight planned Airbus A220-300 aircraft deliveries for airBaltic in 2022. This aircraft is a part of the 50 Airbus A220-300 which airBaltic has ordered. In addition, airBaltic holds 30 options and purchase rights for the same aircraft type.

Tampere is the largest inland city in the Nordic countries and according to some reports, it is Finland’s most desirable city to live in, which perhaps is the reason why more than 240,000 people call it home. The city is Some 105 or so miles north of Helsinki in southern Finland, on a narrow isthmus between two lakes, connected. 

Tampere is a rather pretty urban centre where the main city streets with red brick buildings, small cosy cafés, and all surrounded by the forest.  It seems to have a magical charm or atmosphere that tingles the consciousness of visitors and locals alike. 

The red brick part of the city, is the old industrial hub, once full of factories, manufacturing plants and other industrial buildings, these old 'red brick buildings now house hotels, cafés and museums. It has a feel of Manchester about it, which seems to take on a life of its own.  One of the city's top hotels is there too, the Hotel Torni Tampere, which you enter via an old former railway depot.

The Särkänniemi amusement park is a must-see attraction, regardless of age, it holds plenty to see and do and keeps you entertained, it is also rather pretty.   There are many wonderful eating places, serving a variety of foods,  from local delights like a black pudding type of sausage or oddly spicy doughnuts and fish of course. 

There are a handful of museums in town, including one devoted, perhaps surprisingly, to Lenin! It's where Lenin and Stalin first met in 1905 at a secret meeting of revolutionaries. The exhibition tells the common history of Finland and the Soviet Union from the beginning of the 20th century to the break-up of the Soviet Union and Putin's Russia.

Another museum worth a visit is the Moomin Museum which features illustrations by Tove Jansson, 40 miniatures, tableaux about Moomin events and a tiny Moomin House. Apparently, there are some 2,015 exhibits on display, but I've not stopped to count them! 

Take a look -  The world’s only Moomin Museum - The world's only Moomin Museum is in Tampere, Finland 

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airBaltic participates in Airbus A220 tour around the Asia-Pacific region

Photo airBaltic

Latvian airline airBaltic participates in an aircraft manufacturer Airbus’ demonstration tour around the Asia-Pacific region showcasing its latest A220-300 aircraft, formally known as the BombardierCS300.

During the tour, airBaltic’s A220-300 will visit a total of four destinations in the region.

The first three stops of the tour were Sydney, Australia, Singapore and Hanoi, Vietnam. The aircraft will then visit Tokyo, Japan. At each stop, invited guests are welcome to tour the aircraft, attend product briefings by Airbus executives, as well as take part in a short demo flight.

Thus far, airBaltic has carried nearly 8 000 000 passengers on the Airbus A220-300 aircraft. Airbus A220-300s have completed more than 92 000 flights and flown over 200 000 block hours.

Since May 2020, airBaltic operates all its flights with a single aircraft type – Airbus A220-300, thus minimizing the complexity and benefiting from the additional efficiency provided by the aircraft. The airline’s fleet now consists of 34 A220-300 aircraft with six more planned to join in 2022.

Photo airBaltic

The Airbus A220-300 has performed beyond the company’s expectations, delivering better overall performance, fuel efficiency and convenience for both passengers and the staff. This aircraft offers an excellent flying experience with such benefits for passengers as wider seats, larger windows, more hand luggage space in the cabin, improved lavatories and much more.

The Airbus A220-300 has a high-quality air filtering system equipped with High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) type filter that provides the best level of filtration currently available for recirculated cabin air from the very beginning of boarding, during the entire flight and until all passengers have left the aircraft. The quality of cabin air is carefully controlled and is recirculated with ventilation rates that provide a total change of air 20-30 times per hour. 

Photo airBaltic

In addition, the new aircraft is also considerably quieter – with a four times smaller noise footprint. Moreover, at the moment it is the greenest commercial aircraft in the world, as it is the first aircraft to have a transparent declaration of the life-cycle environmental impact, helping to reduce CO2 and NOX emissions by 20% and 50% respectively.

airBaltic (Air Baltic Corporation AS) connects the Baltic region with over 70 destinations in Europe, the Middle East, and the CIS. Over the last 25 years, airBaltic has developed as a strong, profitable and internationally respected airline. airBaltic is by far the best known international brand of Latvia and responsible for more than 2.5% of the Latvian GDP. airBaltic operates 34 Airbus A220-300 aircraft. airBaltic has received numerous international awards for excellence and innovative services.

Photo airBaltic

 

Use the voucher code MAY22FREE to get free delivery in May from Help for Heroes.

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Photo airBaltic

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Breeze Airways expanding again with 35 routes from 10 new cities this summer

Breeze Airways, one of the newest low-fare airlines in the U.S. is adding 35 routes this summer from 10 new cities, coast to coast. Breeze, the carrier founded by aviation entrepreneur David Neeleman, which began service in May last year is now expanding across the U.S. with 77 routes between 28 cities in 18 states.

Breeze is heading west with service from San Francisco (SFO), Los Angeles (LAX), Las Vegas (LAS) and San Bernardino, with new cities to be added in the east and southeast including Jacksonville, Fort Myers and Sarasota/Bradenton, FL; Savannah, GA; Nashville, TN; and Syracuse, NY.

Introducing the Airbus A220

Breeze has ordered 80 brand new Airbus A220-300 aircraft, with options for 40 more, that will be delivered one per month for six years. The airline will more than double its fleet this year, from 13 Embraer 190 and 195 aircraft to 30 aircraft, including 13 Airbus A220s and four additional Embraer E-jets.

Breeze’s initial A220 aircraft deliveries will feature 126 seats, including 36 First Class seats in a two-by-two configuration, 10 Extra Legroom seats, and 80 Standard Economy seats in a two-by-three configuration. The A220 seat configuration is dynamic however and later deliveries will offer 137 total seats, 12 First Class seats, 45 Extra Legroom seat and 80 Standard Economy seats onboard.

Guests may choose from three price bundles that are offered as ‘Nice’, ‘Nicer’, and ‘Nicest’ service. Guests may even choose a Nice or Nicer bundle and buy an upgrade to a First Class seat.

“The A220-300 is a game-changer for us as we now add long haul flights and transcontinental service,” said Breeze’s Founder and CEO David Neeleman. “The Airbus aircraft embodies the Breeze ideal of merging kindness with technology, pairing unrivaled passenger comfort with eco-friendly efficiency. With the A220, Breeze is giving our Guests the widest cabin, highest ceiling, largest windows and biggest overhead stowage in this class, while still managing to burn 25% less fuel, with half the noise footprint of past generations.”

Seat pitch for a Standard Economy seat on the A220s is 30 inches, 29 inches on the E-190 aircraft and 31 inches on the E-195s, while seat pitch for Extra Legroom is 32 in on the A220s, between 33 and 39 inches on the E-190s, depending on the row selected, and between 34 and 39 inches on the E-195s. First Class seats feature 39-inches of seat pitch, 20.5-inches of seat width, and special features, such as a footrest, for added comfort.

The initial A220-300 aircraft features a comfortable two-class cabin layout with 126 seats:

36 first class seats

10 extra legroom seats

80 standard legroom seats

The configuration will remain dynamic, able to easily increase and decrease seat ratios by route and seasonality. The A220-300 has best-in-class fuel performance, superior network flexibility, and unrivalled operational efficiency.  The aircraft will be reconfigured into a 137-seat configuration with 10 first class seats. 

BREEZE AIRWAYS™ A220-300 CONFIGURATION 

airBaltic extends suspension of Russia flights until May

The Latvian airline airBaltic has confirmed today that because of the increased risk and imposed restrictions all its flights to and from Russia will be cancelled until the end of May 2022.

The carrier said:  "The safety and security of our passengers and employees is the main priority of airBaltic. airBaltic is evaluating the current situation before each flight and remains in close contact with national and international authorities. The airline is flexible and ready to adjust its flight schedule when necessary."

Earlier this month, on 23rd the carrier welcomed its 33rd Airbus A220-300 jet, registered as YL-ABG, in Riga. This is the first of eight planned Airbus A220-300 aircraft deliveries for airBaltic in 2022 and is part of the 50 Airbus A220-300 which airBaltic has ordered. 

Martin Gauss, Chief Executive Officer of airBaltic: “This is the first airBaltic Airbus A220-300 aircraft which is certified to operate up to 148 seats. Until now we could use 145 seats on the aircraft, however, going forward also existing fleet will gradually be recertified for this additional capacity, which will further drive efficiency of our operations.”

Since May 2020, airBaltic operates all its flights with a single aircraft type – Airbus A220-300, thus minimizing the complexity and benefiting from the additional efficiency provided by the aircraft.

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JetBlue orders 30 additional Airbus A220-300, raising its firm order to 100

JetBlue Airways has signed a firm order with Airbus for an additional 30 A220-300 aircraft

JetBlue Airways has signed a firm order with Airbus for an additional 30 A220-300 aircraft. This takes the airline’s firm commitment for the A220-300 to 100 aircraft. This latest agreement lifts the total firm order book for the A220 to 740.

“We’re already seeing benefits from the eight A220s we’ve added to the fleet, and we’re very happy to have more on the way,” said Robin Hayes, chief executive officer, JetBlue. “We’ve seen double-digits increases in customer satisfaction scores, and these fuel-efficient aircraft support our leadership in reducing carbon emissions. With 30 additional A220s on order, we’re in a position to accelerate our fleet modernization plans to deliver stronger cost performance and support our focus city network strategy.”

JetBlue Airways has signed a firm order with Airbus for an additional 30 A220-300 aircraft

“It is very rewarding to see a happy customer coming back for more aircraft not even a year after Entry into Service of its first A220. We salute our friends at JetBlue on this landmark deal,” said Christian Scherer, Airbus Chief Commercial Officer and Head of Airbus International. “Over 700 A220 orders to date underscore the strong market appetite for this all-new Single Aisle aircraft.”

Jetblue started A220-300 operations in April 2021 and currently operates eight A220s in a 140-seat configuration, with USB-C, USB-A and AC power at every seat. The A220 also offers the largest cabin, highest ceiling, biggest windows and most spacious overhead bins in its class.

The A220 is the only aircraft purpose-built for the 100-150 seat market, bringing together state-of-the-art aerodynamics, advanced materials and Pratt & Whitney’s latest-generation PW1500G geared turbofan engines. The A220 brings customers a 50% reduced noise footprint and up to 25% lower fuel burn per seat and CO2 emissions compared to previous generation aircraft, as well as around 50% lower NOx emissions than industry standards.

With around 15 airlines operating close to 200 A220s on four continents, the A220 is the optimal aircraft for regional as well as long-distance routes.

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Breeze Airways to show off Airbus A220 over its rapidly growing network.

The new U.S. budget airline with a breath of fresh air, Breeze Airways has just released plans for new, longer routes for the airline’s super-efficient and popular Airbus A220 aircraft over the coming weeks. 

Passengers will get their first opportunity to fly on the new aircraft on 17 existing Breeze routes this summer, starting May 4th*. One of the ways Breeze is saving money to enable it to operate with low nice fares is by not having a traditional customer contact centre taking phone calls. Instead, Breeze customers can only contact the airline virtually, through text message, Facebook Messenger and email. 

The airline expects to have 15 Airbus A220-300s in service by the end of 2022 which will be used primarily for longer-haul flights, including transcontinental service. The carrier, which only began service in May 2021 with an all-Embraer fleet, has agreed to purchase 80 A220-300s, with one aircraft scheduled to be delivered each month for the next six and a half years.

Nicest Fare

Until now, Breeze Guests have been able to select from either the ‘Nice’ or ‘Nicer’ fare when booking on the Breeze website or app. When booking a flight on the A220-300, Guests will have a third fare option to select, the ‘Nicest’ fare, which will feature a range of bundled amenities in addition to a first-class seat.

The Nicest fare also includes two checked bags, a carry-on bag and a personal item, and Guests will receive 6% BreezePoints earned. Fresh food items will be introduced later with the longer routes. All A220-300 aircraft will be outfitted later this year with the technology allowing Guests to seamlessly stream TV or movies, check email, browse the internet and stay connected via social media or messaging apps while in flight.

First Class Seat

Breeze’s A220-300 aircraft will feature a dynamic seating plan which can be customized for seasonality, or by the route. The A220s will feature a range between 10 and 45 extra legroom seats and 80 standard legroom seats, all in a two-by-three configuration. The aircraft also will be outfitted with between 12 and 36 first-class seats in a two-by-two configuration, featuring 39-inches of seat pitch, 20.5-inches of seat width and special features such as a footrest for added comfort. All seats are fitted with in-seat power and USB ports.

First A220 Flights

Breeze has extended its travel booking window through September 6, 2022, revealing which routes the A220 will operate first. The A220 will not operate every day on each route. To determine which flights are operated by the A220, check to see if there is a “Nicest” fare option, which is only available on the Airbus jet.

The A220 will operate on the following routes:

Tampa, FL to:

- Akron/Canton, OH (starting 5/4/22) ;

- Charleston, SC (starting 5/4/22);

- Louisville, KY (starting 5/4/22);

- Norfolk, VA (starting 5/4/22);

- Oklahoma City, OK (starting 5/4/22);

- Richmond, VA (starting 5/4/22);

- Tulsa, OK (starting 5/5/22);

- Bentonville/Fayetteville, AR (starting 5/6/22);

- Huntsville, AL (starting 5/6/22).

Charleston, SC to:

- Tampa, FL (starting 5/4/22);

- Providence, RI (starting 5/5/22);

- Richmond, VA (starting 5/26/22);

- Hartford, CT (starting 6/2/22);

- Huntsville, AL (starting 6/30/22).

Norfolk, VA to:

- Tampa, FL (starting 5/4/22);

- Columbus, OH (starting 6/2/22);

- Hartford, CT (starting 6/2/22).

Richmond, VA to:

- Tampa, FL (starting 5/4/22);

- Charleston, SC (starting 5/26/22).

Akron/Canton, OK to:

- Tampa, FL (starting 5/4/22).

Louisville, KY to:

- Tampa, FL (starting 5/4/22).

Oklahoma City, OH to:

- Tampa, FL (starting 5/4/22).

Providence, RI to:

- Charleston, SC (starting 5/5/22).

Tulsa, OK to:

- Tampa, FL (starting 5/5/22).

Bentonville/Fayetteville, AR to:

- Tampa, FL (starting 5/6/22).

Huntsville, AL to:

- Tampa, FL (starting 5/6/22);

- Charleston, SC (starting 6/30/22).

Hartford, CT to:

- Charleston, SC (starting 6/2/22);

- Columbus, OH (starting 6/2/22);

- Norfolk, VA (starting 6/2/22);

- Pittsburgh, PA; (starting 6/2/22).

Columbus, OH to:

- Hartford, CT (starting 6/2/22);

- Norfolk, VA (starting 6/2/22).

Pittsburgh, PA to:

- Hartford, CT (starting 6/2/22).

Based in Salt Lake City, UT, Breeze developed an app to deliver a simple and streamlined travel experience that provides the Guest with all the self-service tools they need to book, manage, change, and cancel flights. 

*Subject to Government approval

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