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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ALC orders 111 Airbus aircraft - 25 A220-300s, 55 A321neos, 20 A321XLRs, 4 A330neos and 7 A350Fs

Air Lease Corporation has signed a Letter of Intent covering all Airbus Families, highlighting the power of the company’s full product range. The agreement is for 25 A220-300s, 55 A321neos, 20 A321XLRs, four A330neos and includes seven A350Fs. The order which will be finalised in the coming months, makes the Los Angeles based ALC one of Airbus’ largest customers and lessor with the biggest A220 order book. Founded in 2010, ALC has ordered a total of 496 Airbus aircraft to date.

With this order, ALC and Airbus are launching a multi-million dollar ESG fund initiative that will contribute towards investment into sustainable aviation development projects that will in the future be opened to multiple stakeholders from the aircraft leasing and financing community and beyond.

Joint creation of a sustainability fund to foster industry decarbonisation solutions

“This new order announcement is the culmination of many months of hard work and dedication by both organizations to optimize and fine-tune the size and scope of this large aircraft transaction in view of the rapidly growing global airline demand to modernize their jet fleets through the ALC leasing medium,” said Steven F Udvar-Hazy, Executive Chairman of Air Lease Corporation. “After lengthy and detailed consultations with several dozen of our strategic airline customers around the world, we are focusing this comprehensive order on the most desirable and in-demand aircraft types, covering the A220, A321neo, A330neo and A350 families. ALC is an international Market Leader in each of these categories of the most modern Airbus product lineup. These multi-year additions of new technology aircraft assets to ALC’s expanding portfolio will allow us to grow our revenues and profitability while satisfying our airline customer requirements.”

airBaltic to showcase Airbus A220 at Dubai Airshow

The Latvian Government-funded airline airBaltic has confirmed it will be taking part in the Dubai Airshow between 14th and 18th November this year. Together with aircraft manufacturer Airbus, the airline will show off its delightful and popular  Airbus A220-300 jet.

Dubai Airshow is one of the largest and most successful air shows in the world, connecting aerospace professionals across all areas of the industry to facilitate successful global trade. It will be the first global airshow since 2019 and the largest aerospace event to take place in 2021.

airBaltic introduced the Airbus A220-300 aircraft into its fleet almost five years ago, back then it was known as the Bombardier CS300 and since then the jets have carried over 6,500,000 passengers. Thus far, most passengers have been carried to such destinations as Amsterdam, Paris, London, and Moscow with the Airbus A220-300’s completing more than 78,246 flights and flown over 175 312 block hours.

According to the airline, 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.

Breeze Airways unveils first of 80 Airbus A220s on order

Breeze Airways unveiled its first of 80 A220-300 aircraft on order during a preview event at the Airbus A220 final assembly line in Mobile, Alabama. The aircraft is expected to be delivered to Breeze in the coming weeks.

Breeze’s A220-300 cabin is configured in a comfortable two-class 126 seat premium cabin layout comprising 36 business and 90 economy seats fitted with in-seat power and USB ports for all passengers.

Breeze will offer superior single-aisle comfort onboard its brand new A220s, such as the widest seats, the largest windows and more overhead stowage space per passenger.

The A220’s superior efficiency will support the new airline’s business objectives to deliver a great travel experience to its passengers, with low fares and high flexibility. Breeze is expected to provide non-stop service between underserved routes across the U.S. at affordable fares - offering point-to-point flights from smaller secondary airports, bypassing hubs for shorter travel times.

Breeze started airline operations in May 2021. This first A220 is expected to enter service in Q2 2022.

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. With a range of up to 3,450 nm (6,390 km), the A220 gives airlines added operational flexibility. 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.

As of the end of September 2021, over 170 A220s have been delivered to 12 operators worldwide.

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Intelsat to Provide Inflight Connectivity on Air France’s A220 Fleet

Intelsat, the operator of the world's largest integrated satellite and terrestrial network, has been selected by Air France to install its 2Ku high-speed, satellite-based inflight connectivity solution on 60 new Air France A220-300 aircraft. With deliveries commencing in 2021, the aircraft will fly to short and medium-haul destinations of the Air France network.

Intelsat's solution is the industry's leading inflight connectivity (IFC) because it simply delivers the highest throughput and best reliability to aircraft and devices globally, providing a superior connected passenger experience and exceptional Net Promoter Scores (NPS).

"We are honored to partner with Air France and delight their passengers with a superior inflight connectivity experience on Airbus' state-of-the-art A220 aircraft," said John Wade, president, Commercial Aviation of Intelsat. "This award expands the total Intelsat fleet at Air France to 143 aircraft, including widebody B777s and A330s. Air France is the third airline partner to select Intelsat on the A220 airframe and our first 2Ku line-fit European airline partner."

31 New Airbus aircraft for ITA...................... 15 A220s, 2 A320neos, 9 A321neos and 5 A330-900neos

The global aircraft leasing giant, Air Lease Corporation confirmed on Thursday 30 September that ITA, the new national airline of Italy, has agreed to lease 31 new ALC aircraft consisting of 15 A220s, two A320neos, nine A321neos and five A330-900neos on long-term lease from ALC’s orderbook with Airbus.  The 31 aircraft will deliver to the airline progressively beginning in the second half of 2022 through early 2025. 

In addition to these 31 ALC Airbus aircraft, ITA has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Airbus for the purchase of 28 new aircraft: 10 Airbus A330neo aircraft for long-haul flights, seven Airbus A220 family regional jets and 11 Airbus A320neo family aircraft (deliveries for the latter to start after the completion of the business plan).

Overall, ITA will lease a total of 56 new Airbus aircraft over the course of the plan (13 long-haul jets, including the ultra-modern Airbus A350-900, and 43 short and medium-haul aircraft).

“Air Lease Corporation is pleased and proud to be the launch Lessor for ITA to supply the new airline 31 new Airbus jet aircraft, including the most modern A220 and A320/321neo family jets, as well the latest environmentally friendly widebody aircraft on long-term operating leases from ALC’s orderbook.  These transactions will allow ITA to operate the most technologically advanced new aircraft to cover ITA’s European and Intercontinental route network with great efficiency,” said Steven F. Udvar-Házy, Executive Chairman of Air Lease Corporation.  “We look forward to a long-term successful partnership,” he said.

The Executive Chairman of ITA, Alfredo Altavilla, said: “The strategic partnership with Airbus and ALC is crucial for ITA to jumpstart our Business Plan aiming at achieving our targets of a new environmental-friendly fleet with significantly lower operating and leasing costs.  I want to thank both Christian Scherer, CCO of Airbus, and Steven F. Udvar-Házy, Executive Chairman of Air Lease Corporation, for their trust in the future of our brand-new airline.” 

“ITA has done a thorough clean sheet aircraft evaluation and has chosen Airbus across all segments.  This is very gratifying and a testimony of the great value of the Airbus product range.  It sets a benchmark in driving the decarbonization and efficiency agenda.  From the start, we have been working closely with ITA, listening carefully to their requirements.  Today we are proud and grateful to be alongside ITA in building its future together.  Grazie Mille!" said Christian Scherer, Airbus Chief Commercial Officer and Head of Airbus International.

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Say hello to the first of 60 new Airbus A220s for Air France

 Air France has received its first A220-300 from an order for 60 aircraft of the type, the largest A220 order from a European carrier. The aircraft was delivered from Airbus’ final assembly line in Mirabel, Quebec, Canada and officially unveiled to the public during a ceremony held at Paris Charles-De-Gaulle Airport.

The A220 is the most efficient and flexible aircraft in the 100 to 150 seat market segment today. The renewal of the Air France single-aisle fleet with this latest generation aircraft will increase efficiency along with customer comfort and support Air France to meet its environmental goals and sustainability objectives.

The first Air France A220-300 will be operated on its medium-haul network from the 2021 winter season. Currently, Air France operates a fleet of 136 Airbus aircraft. Air France is also renewing its long-haul fleet, and has already taken delivery of 11 A350s out of an order of 38.

The Air France A220-300 cabin is configured in a single-class layout to comfortably welcome 148 passengers. Offering superior single-aisle comfort, with the widest leather seats, largest windows and up to 20% more overhead stowage space per passenger, the Air France A220 also features full WiFi connectivity throughout the cabin and two USB sockets at each passenger seat. 

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. With a range of up to 3,450 nm (6,390 km), the A220 gives airlines added operational flexibility. 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.

As of the end of August, over 170 A220s have been delivered to 11 operators worldwide.

On board the aircraft, up to eight rows of seats can be dedicated to customers travelling in the Business cabin. Located at the front of the aircraft, passengers in this cabin enjoy priority boarding and disembarkation. For greater comfort, privacy and space, a movable curtain isolates the cabin, where each customer has a seat left free beside them. 

The catering offer is adapted to the flight time and depends on the time of departure. In the Business cabin, each customer is served a generous breakfast or meal with warm bread. Champagne, wine and a 

wide selection of hot and cold drinks are also available. In the Economy cabin, biscuits or sandwiches including a vegetarian choice are available. 

Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages are also offered. In all cabins, passengers on the Airbus A220-300 enjoy Air France Connect, the airline’s inflight Wi-Fi service. Thanks to the aircraft’s Wi-Fi network, which is available throughout the flight, customers can easily stay connected from their personal devices. The Air France Connect portal offers them three passes according to their needs, including one that is free of charge and allows them to send and receive messages during the flight. 

Customers can also find all the information related to their flight and their connections. In addition, thanks to the Air France Play app, customers can download a wide selection of newspapers and magazines onto their smartphone or tablet up to 30 hours before departure.

As of 31 October 2021, Air France customers will be able to enjoy the comfort on board the Airbus A220-300 on flights to Berlin (Germany), Barcelona and Madrid (Spain), Milan-Linate and Venice (Italy). Throughout the 2021-2022 winter season, the aircraft will gradually extend its network to include Bologna and Rome (Italy), Lisbon (Portugal) and Copenhagen (Denmark). 

A220 Family aircraft have been specifically designed for the 100-150 seat market, resulting in efficiencies inherent in purpose-built aircraft, and an unmatched environmental scorecard. What’s more, the A220-100 and A220-300 have over 99% parts commonality, as well as the same pilot type rating, facilitating the family’s addition to any airline’s fleet.

A220 Family jetliners were designed using state-of-the-art computational aerodynamics combined with 21st century supercomputing capability; the result is a family of aircraft with optimal aerodynamic performance and efficiency. Powering the aircraft are twin Pratt & Whitney PurePower PW1500G geared turbofan engines specifically designed for the A220. With a bypass ratio of 12:1 – one of the highest of any turbofan engine in the world – the aircraft features 25% lower fuel burn per seat than previous generation aircraft, half the noise footprint, and decreased emissions.

Together, the A220 Family represents the most efficient aircraft in the skies in their class, with low operating costs and low noise levels. This makes the A220 Family aircraft ideal for urban operations and noise-sensitive airports.

A220 Family aircraft are designed to deliver the feel of a wide-body jetliner in a single-aisle aircraft. The cabin provides space where it matters the most, leading to an unparalleled passenger experience.

Overhead bins, with the largest stowage capacity in their class, are easily accessible. The extra-large windows with more than one at each row, are positioned high on the cabin sidewall to provide an optimal viewing angle and an abundance of natural light. Wide seats –18 inches or more – provide a generous personal space without compromise, and the newly designed engines contribute to the quietest cabin in its class.

The A220 lower deck cargo hold boasts a wide flat floor and vertical sidewalls for efficient stacking, which result in a significantly higher usable volume than the competition.

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airBaltic receives 31st Airbus A220-300 - YL-ABE joins the fleet.....

airBaltic receives its 31st Airbus A220-300

Whilst many other European airlines are contracting, consolidating and reducing, the Riga based airBatlic is rapidly growing. On 16th  September the airline had its sixth aircraft delivery of the year and its 31st Airbus A220 aircraft. 

This jet, registered as YL-ABE, forms part of an order of 50 Airbus A220-300 airBaltic made with Airbus, which also has options for 30 more aircraft.  

Since the introduction of the Airbus A220-300 aircraft in late 2016, airBaltic has carried over 6 505 932 passengers on the aircraft. Thus far, most passengers have been carried to such destinations as Amsterdam, Paris, London, and Moscow. Airbus A220-300’s have completed over 78 246 flights and flown over 175 312 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.

28th Airbus A220-300 for airBaltic

On August 15, 2021, the Latvian government-owned carrier airBaltic welcomed its 28th Airbus A220-300 jet, registered as YL-ABB, in Riga. This is the third out of seven Airbus A220-300s scheduled to arrive this year. This aircraft is a part of the 50 Airbus A220-300 which airBaltic has ordered. In addition, airBaltic holds 30 options for the same aircraft type.

Since May 2020, when airBaltic axed its Boeing 737 and Bombardier Q400 fleets, it has operated all its flights with the Airbus A220-300 jets, thus minimizing the complexity and benefiting from the additional efficiency provided by the aircraft.

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. 

Pisa becomes a new destination for airBaltic

Latvian airline airBaltic on July 2, 2021 launched new summer seasonal flights between Riga and the Italian city of Pisa. airBaltic now connects both cities with two weekly flights.

Flights between Riga and Pisa are operated by the Airbus A220-300 aircraft. This summer airBaltic offers more than 70 direct destinations from Riga, including seven destinations in Italy, seven destinations in Greece and six destinations in Spain in addition to many other leisure destinations.

As many other Italian cities, Pisa is rich with delights waiting to be explored. Although it is most known for The Leaning Tower, which is famous all over the world, this is not the only surprise that this beautiful city keeps. Take a short direct flight from Riga to Pisa and enjoy all that Tuscany has to offer – the finest art, culture, nature, and of course, simple, yet so delicious cuisine and wine.

ACG places another Airbus A220-300 with air Baltic

Aviation Capital Group, a leading aircraft asset manager has announced the delivery of one new Airbus A220-300 aircraft on long-term lease to airBaltic. This aircraft is ACG’s second A220 aircraft to be leased by ACG to airBaltic as part of a sale and leaseback transaction between ACG and the airline.

Aviation Capital Group was founded in 1989 and is one of the world’s premier full-service aircraft asset managers with approximately 400 owned, managed and committed aircraft as of March 31, 2021, which are leased to approximately 85 airlines in approximately 40 countries. ACG is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tokyo Century Corporation.

Latvian airline airBaltic was founded in 1995. Its primary shareholder is the Latvian state, which holds 96.14% of the stock, while Lars Thuesen holds 3.86% through his fully-owned Aircraft Leasing 1 SIA. airBaltic is a hybrid airline taking the best practices both from traditional network airlines and low-cost carriers.

In 2008, airBaltic changed its operating model from a point-to-point carrier to a network airline making Riga a connecting hub. The airline offers low fare tickets in its network spanning Europe, Scandinavia, Russia, CIS and the Middle East.

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Air Canada's retro livery A220 making rare visit to St Johns today.

Air Canada's delightful retro livery adorned Airbus A220 jet is making a rare visit to St John's today as it operates flight AC678 from Montreal. 

The super-efficient twin jet is painted in the colours of the airline’s original name, Trans-Canada Air Lines (TCA).  It is a special livery that pays tribute to the airline’s heritage, which can be traced back to its founding in 1937. 

The special livered jet,  registration C- GNBN, has mainly been flying between Edmonton and Vancouver in recent times, with the odd rotation to Los Angeles and Toronto.

Designed and built in Quebec, the Airbus A220-300, formally known as the Bombardier CS300, is an integral part of Air Canada’s fleet modernization and each A220 includes parts from 30 companies that are based in or have activities in Canada, making this aircraft a true testament to the importance of the aviation sector in Canada.

However, C- GNBN is not the first aircraft to bear this special livery in modern times, the special TCA livery first appeared in August 1997 for the airlines 60th birthday on a brand-new Airbus A319 registration C-FZUH. Air Canada was then the first airline in North America to operate the A319 and was also the first one to operate the Airbus A220-300.  After nearly 24 years in the fleet, the A319 C-FZUH was retired from the fleet in January 2021.

Track the jet on flightradar24.

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26th Airbus A220-300 arrives in Riga for airBaltic

The 26th Airbus A220-300 for airBaltic in Riga                                Photo airBaltic

The Latvian government-funded airline airBaltic has welcomed its 26th Airbus A220-300 aircraft, registered as YL-AAZ earlier this month. 

The new jet is the first of seven planned Airbus A220-300 aircraft deliveries for the airline expects to receive this year airBaltic in 2021. This aircraft is a part of the 50 Airbus A220-300 which airBaltic has ordered. In addition, airBaltic holds 30 options for the same aircraft type.

Martin Gauss, Chief Executive Officer of airBaltic: “This year airBaltic offers 96 routes from the Baltics thus strengthening our positions as the leading airline in the region. We see that with the increasing vaccination levels in Europe the demand for leisure travel is recovering. Thus, to support our future return to profit and growth, by the end of 2021 we are planning to have 32 Airbus A220-300 aircraft on our fleet.”

First Airbus A220 added to the Aviation Capital Group portfolio

Aviation Capital Group. a leading aircraft asset manager, announced the delivery of one new Airbus A220-300 aircraft on long-term lease to airBaltic. This aircraft is ACG’s first A220 and the first of four A220-300 aircraft to be leased by ACG to airBaltic as part of a sale and leaseback transaction between ACG and the airline.

“We are proud to take delivery of our first A220 and welcome airBaltic into the ACG family of customers,” said Tom Baker, CEO and president of ACG. “As the only Airbus aircraft designed specifically for the 100-150 seat market, the A220 offers excellent fuel efficiency and passenger comfort in this segment of the market. The A220 incorporates state-of-the-art aerodynamics and is powered by Pratt & Whitney’s advanced PW1500G geared turbofan engines.”

“The current crisis enabled us to focus on the Airbus A220-300 as the only aircraft type airBaltic will fly in the future. Our aircraft choice has already showed itself as the most efficient, sustainable aircraft for our market,” said Vitolds Jakovlevs, CFO of airBaltic. “We are glad that ACG will now be a part of our growth story.”

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First JetBlue Airbus A220-300 enters scheduled service on Monday.......

This Game-Changing Airbus aircraft will initially operate between the Northeast and Florida with the second A220 scheduled to arrive this week

JetBlue announced its first Airbus A220-300 aircraft has officially entered scheduled service with the first revenue flight from Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) to Tampa International Airport (TPA) occurring on Monday evening.  

The aircraft – which was assembled at Airbus's U.S. production facility in Mobile, Ala. – is scheduled to operate between the Northeast and Florida for the next several weeks. JetBlue’s second A220 is on track for delivery in the coming days, with the third expected to arrive next month.

“We selected the Airbus A220 nearly three years ago knowing its cost savings, superior performance and customer-friendly design would evolve our fleet for the long-term future,” said Ursula Hurley, head of treasury and investor relations, JetBlue. “These factors, which initially led us to select the A220, are now more important than ever as we navigate the new travel environment with a steady hand and a long-term view on recovery. Today’s introduction of our first A220 into scheduled service allows us to continue to execute our low-cost business model and enables JetBlue to continue to offer low fares to more customers.”

The A220 boasts a nearly 30 percent lower direct operating cost per seat than JetBlue’s existing E190 fleet. Lower seat costs come from both fuel and non-fuel savings. The A220 fleet will also help to further reset JetBlue's maintenance costs well into the decade. With a range of up to 3,350 nautical miles and a 40 percent lower fuel burn per seat than JetBlue's E190 aircraft, the favourable economics open the door to new markets and routes that would have been unprofitable with JetBlue's existing fleet.

JetBlue introduces its new Airbus A220-300 - take a look inside.

New York's hometown airline, JetBlue has opened the doors to its brand new Airbus A220-300 to passengers for the first time.  This aircraft will soon greet customers at the end of the jetway and is the first of 70 the carrier has on order.

This delightful next-generation of aircraft combines style and substance with its game-changing economics, custom-created cabin design, large windows and supreme comfort.  "With the A220 we’ve taken a state-of-the-art aircraft and added our award-winning touch to bring to life an experience only JetBlue could dream up," said Jayne O’Brien, head of marketing and loyalty, JetBlue. "We look forward to welcoming customers onboard our newest aircraft, with incredible onboard comfort, one-of-a-kind design elements and unparalleled entertainment and connectivity."

Spacious Seats

JetBlue’s A220 is outfitted with the Collins Meridian seat, customized around customer feedback and featuring a number of design elements with comfort and convenience in mind. And, in a first for the airline’s fleet, seating is arranged in a two-by-three configuration. Whether travelling as a couple or a family, JetBlue’s newest plane has multiple seating options for all party sizes.

Airbus Canada transfers A220 material management services to Satair

                                              Airbus Canada Limited Partnership has officially transferred the overall A220 material management services offer to Satair, as part of the programme integration into Airbus. Since July, Satair, an Airbus services company, has taken the lead on global material support and services for A220 operators, working in close coordination with the A220 programme team in Airbus Canada.

The transfer represents a key milestone for Airbus and a significant step in the overall further integration of the A220 programme. “All A220 customers will benefit from the same level of service and global network offered by Satair on all other Airbus platforms”, said Rob Dewar, Senior Vice President, A220 Customer Services, Customer Satisfaction and Product Policy. “This is a significant contributor to improving the overall satisfaction of our growing A220 customer base worldwide.”

“Satair’s footprint of service centres and warehouses will contribute to a greater scope of spare parts available for all A220 operators. Customers can look forward to leveraging Satair's global presence”, said Bart Reijnen, CEO of Satair. “We are very proud to be supporting the A220 aircraft with our strong Satair organization.”

Air Baltic use Airbus A220 to fly faces masks and respirators from China to Latvia

The Latvian airline airBaltic used an Airbus A220-300 registered as YL-CSI to bring nearly one million face masks and respirators all the way from China to its home base of Riga.

The flight from Ürümqi Diwopu International Airport in China took just over six and a half hours to complete and covered a distance of some 4815 kilometres.

Airbus and the Government of Québec become sole owners of the A220 Programme as Bombardier completes its strategic exit from Commercial Aviation

Airbus SE, the Government of Québec and  Bombardier Inc. have agreed upon a new ownership structure for the A220 programme, whereby Bombardier transferred its remaining shares in Airbus Canada Limited Partnership (Airbus Canada) to Airbus and the Government of Québec. The transaction is effective immediately.

This agreement brings the shareholdings in Airbus Canada, responsible for the A220, to 75 percent for Airbus and 25 percent for the Government of Québec respectively. The Government’s stake is redeemable by Airbus in 2026 - three years later than before. As part of this transaction, Airbus, via its wholly owned subsidiary Stelia Aerospace, has also acquired the A220 and A330 work package production capabilities from Bombardier in Saint-Laurent, Québec.

Bombardier transfers its remaining interest in Airbus Canada Limited Partnership (Airbus Canada) to Airbus SE and the Government of QuébecAirbus now holds 75 percent of Airbus Canada with the Government of Québec increasing its holding to 25 percent for no cash considerationBombardier work packages for the A220 and A330 will be transferred to Airbus, through its subsidiary Stelia Aerospace, securing 360 jobs in QuébecBombardier will receive US$591M, net of adjustments, of which US$531M was received at closing, and is released of its future funding capital requirement to Airbus CanadaOver 3,300 Airbus jobs secured in Québec