Provided by Airbus

9 January 2019, Delta Air Lines has ordered 15 additional A220 aircraft, bringing to 90 the total of the new generation, highly fuel-efficient jetliners the world’s second-largest airline has on order. The additional orders are the airline’s first for the -300 model. Delta also converted earlier A220 orders to the larger -300, bringing to 50 the number of A220-300s on order.

“These additional A220 aircraft will continue to strategically enable Delta to refresh our fleet, drive further advances in the customer experience and serve as an excellent investment for our customers, employees and shareowners for Delta into the next decade,” said Gil West, Delta’s Chief Operating Officer. “We look forward to taking our first A220-300 in 2020 at the Airbus assembly facility in Mobile, Alabama.”

Delta placed its initial order for 75 aircraft in 2016. Airbus will produce the A220-300s at a new U.S. assembly facility in Mobile, Alabama. Construction of the plant, to be located adjacent to the existing Airbus A320 assembly facility, will begin later in January.

“Delta has always been deeply focused on the passenger experience, and the A220 fits perfectly with that philosophy,” said Christian Scherer, Airbus Chief Commercial Officer. “You just need to take a look at Delta’s cabin on the A220 to see it’s setting a new standard in short-haul flying. The A220 will provide passengers with a level of comfort and convenience that makes flying a pleasure again, while meeting Delta’s high standards for efficiency and reliability.”

The A220 is the only aircraft purpose-built for the 100-150 seat market; it delivers unbeatable fuel efficiency and true widebody comfort in a single-aisle aircraft. The A220 brings together state-of-the-art aerodynamics, advanced materials and Pratt & Whitney’s latest-generation PW1500G geared turbofan engines to offer at least 20 percent lower fuel burn per seat compared to previous generation aircraft. With a range of up to 3,200 nm (5920 km), the A220 offers the performance of larger single-aisle aircraft.

With an order book of more than 500 aircraft to date, the A220 has all the credentials to win the lion’s share of the 100- to 150-seat aircraft market estimated to represent at least 7,000 aircraft over the next 20 years.

News provided by FlightGlobal.com

4 January 2019 | By Jon Hemmerdinger, Boston

Delta Air Lines‘ long-running quest to begin Airbus A220 flights may face another hurdle – this one due to the ongoing shutdown of the US federal government.

The Atlanta-based carrier – the first US airline to acquire the A220 – has planned to place the type into revenue service on 31 January with flights from New York LaGuardia airport to Boston and Dallas-Fort Worth.

But the US budgetary standoff – which is about to enter a third week – has shuttered large swaths of the US government.

The Federal Aviation Administration already certified the A220 itself (those approvals came in 2016), but carriers cannot operate new aircraft types until the agency concludes an operational review and adds those types to airlines’ operating certificates, insiders note.

FAA units tasked with that work, however, are not currently on the job, they say.

The process can be lengthy even when the government is open, and sometimes wraps up only shortly before an aircraft is scheduled enter service, says John Goglia, a former National Transportation Safety Board member who now helps aircraft operators navigate the process of placing new aircraft types into service.

The degree to which Delta has completed final certification work remains unknown, and the airline declines to answer questions about A220 certification.

However, Delta insists the government shutdown will not affect its schedules.

“Delta continues to monitor the situation and will work with the FAA to ensure that the A220 is fully certified when it enters our fleet,” Delta tells FlightGlobal. “No customer disruption or impact to schedules are expected.”

The still-shuttered FAA did not respond to questions from FlightGlobal.

The FAA’s process of adding aircraft types to operating certificates involves a review of a carrier’s ability to operate the type safety. Inspectors ensure pilots have completed approved training programmes and that airlines have adequate maintenance support, Goglia says. The FAA also ensures the aircraft carry all required safety equipment.

Though much paperwork is involved, the process culminates with a physical aircraft inspection by FAA officials, he says. They “open everything up and spot check” to ensure the aircraft meets the FAA’s requirements.

Delta has already faced a lengthy fight in its quest to become the first US carrier to operate the A220, which had been owned by Bombardier and called the CSeries until Airbus acquire the programme last year.

Delta ordered 75 A220-100s in April 2016. In 2017, it rallied behind Bombardier when that company’s rival Boeing filed a trade dispute with the US Department of Commerce.

Boeing claimed Bombardier received improper government subsidies, then sold A220s to Delta at artificially-low prices, violating US trade law by harming sales of 737-700s and 737 Max 7. The case effectively threatened to shut down Bombardier’s ability to export the aircraft to the USA.

Bombardier, with Delta‘s support, won the case after a protracted fight when the US International Trade Commission ruled that Boeing’s larger jets do not compete directly with A220s.

Delta received its first A220 in October 2018 and now has four aircraft in its fleet, according to Flight Fleets Analyzer.

In addition to the initial LaGuardia-Boston and LaGuardia-Dallas routes, Delta has said it will deploy A220s by this summer to Detroit, Houston and Salt Lake City.

The US government shut down on 22 December when lawmakers failed to agree on a funding bill due largely to disagreement over money earmarked for construction of a barrier along the US-Mexico border.

News provided by FlightGlobal.com

3 January 2019 | By Michael Gubisch, London

JetBlue Airways has firmed up an order for 60 Airbus A220-300s

When Airbus took control of the twinjet programme – previously known as the CSeries – in July 2018, it disclosed that JetBlue had signed a memorandum of understanding that covered firm orders for 60 A220-300s. The US airline also indicated that it had taken options on a further 60. The A220s will replace JetBlue‘s fleet of 60 Embraer 190s.

Airbus now says the order for 60 aircraft was finalised in late December.

JetBlue chief executive Robin Hayes states: “The impressive range and economics of the highly efficient A220… will help ensure we deliver the best onboard experience to customers and meet our long-term financial targets as we continue disciplined growth into the future.”

Flight Fleets Analyzer shows that JetBlue‘s fleet is comprised of 130 A320s, 63 A321s and 60 E190s.

The airline has 85 A321neos on orders.

Deliveries of JetBlue‘s A220s – from Airbus’s planned US assembly line in Mobile – are scheduled to begin in 2020, the airframer has previously said.

03 January 2019 | By: Firdaus Hashom, Singapore

A Korean Air Airbus A220-300 suffered a failure to its left Pratt & Whitney PW1500G engine on 27 December 2018.

In response to FlightGlobal’s query, the carrier confirmed the incident, stating that the aircraft registered HL8314, was operating as flight KE753 on the Busan-Nagoya route with 64 passengers onboard.

On the day the incident happened, the aircraft departed Busan Gimhae International airport at 13.01 hours local time for Nagoya, where the engine failure was detected 25 minutes later. It subsequently made a return for Busan, and safely landed at Gimhae airport 59 minutes after departure.

While the airline was unable to comment on the damage suffered by the Pratt & Whitney PW1521G powerplant, a picture circulating on social media purportedly indicates severe damage to the blades of the low pressure turbine.

“The aircraft is currently under inspection at our hangar. Korean Air always puts safety as its first priority, and we are working closely with Airbus and Pratt & Whitney for comprehensive assessment,” it adds.

Flight Fleets Analyzer shows that HL8314 (MSN 55035) is owned by an unspecified entity. It is managed and operated by Korean Air since delivery was made in August 2018.

News provided by FlightGlobal.com

03 January 2019 | By: Michael Gubisch, London
Source: FLIGHT DASHBOARD

David Neeleman’s US start-up carrier has firmed an order for 60 Airbus A220-300s, after tentatively signing for the jets at last year’s Farnborough air show.

Airbus says the deal with the JetBlue founder’s new airline – “code-named Moxy” – was completed in late December, and that the aircraft will be built in the USA, at the planned A220 assembly line in Mobile, Alabama.

Construction of that facility – adjacent to Airbus’s US A320 assembly line – is set to begin later this month, adds the airframer. The new A220 line will supplement one in Mirabel, Canada.

Deliveries of A220s to Neeleman’s carrier are scheduled to begin in 2021, Airbus said last year.

Neeleman describes the A220 as having a “unique… ability to operate profitably in thin, underserved markets across a broad spectrum of ranges”.

He states: “With a low cost of operation and spacious cabin, the A220 will allow us to provide passengers with lower fares and a high quality, comfortable flying experience.”

At Farnborough last year, Neeleman stressed that Moxy was merely a working title for his airline project, acknowledging that the name was already used by the Marriott group for one of its hotel brands.

News provided by Airbus

Air Tanzania has become the first African carrier to take delivery of the Airbus A220 aircraft, the newest addition to the Airbus family of commercial aircraft. Air Tanzania (The Wings of the Kilimanjaro) also becomes the latest member of Airbus aircraft operators.

Representatives from the airline – as well as officials from the United Republic of Tanzania government, alongside executives from the A220 programme – celebrated the aircraft’s handover at the A220 Mirabel assembly line.

“The A220’s unrivalled passenger comfort, combined with its remarkable performance and economics, will be an excellent asset to further develop Air Tanzania’s network,” said Tito Kasambala, Acting CEO, Tanzanian Government Flight Agency (TGFA).

The A220 will allow Air Tanzania to further develop its domestic and regional market as well as open new routes to India and the Middle East from its home base at Dar es Salaam.

“With the addition of the A220 in our fleet, we are confident that we will expand our footprint in the growing African markets and beyond, as we unlock additional routes and regain our position as a key player in the African air transport market,” added Ladislaus Matindi, Managing Director & CEO, Air Tanzania Company Limited.

Air Tanzania becomes the fifth airline globally with an A220 family aircraft.

“After Europe, Asia and America, we are proud to see the A220 fly now also on the African continent and in Air Tanzania’s livery. With over 240 Airbus aircraft flying in Africa and a large network of flight service offices in the region, we are ready to contribute to the airline’s success,” said Philippe Balducchi, CEO of the A220 partnership.

The A220 is the only aircraft purpose-built for the 100-150 seat market; it delivers unbeatable fuel efficiency and true widebody comfort in a single-aisle aircraft. The A220 brings together state-of-the-art aerodynamics, advanced materials and Pratt & Whitney’s latest-generation PW1500G geared turbofan engines to offer at least 20 percent lower fuel burn per seat compared to previous generation aircraft. With a range of up to 3,200 nm (5020 km), the A220 offers the performance of larger single aisle aircraft.

With an order book of over 400 aircraft to date, the A220 has all the credentials to win the lion’s share of the 100- to 150-seat aircraft market, estimated to represent at least 7,000 aircraft over the next 20 years.