Delta Air Lines on Feb. 7 became the first airline in the Americas to debut the Airbus A220, operating flights between New York LaGuardia (LGA) and both Boston Logan and Dallas-Fort Worth International (DFW).
The A220’s debut—delayed a week when the partial government shutdown held up final FAA approvals—kicks off a major ramp-up in A220 services for both Delta and the region.
Atlanta-based Delta has committed to taking 90 A220s, including 40 A220-100s and 50 A220-300s. It has taken delivery of four—all smaller, 109-seat -100 versions. Aviation Week’s Fleet Discovery shows Delta taking delivery of 16 more by year-end. The airline’s 130-seat A220-300s are slated to arrive from 2020 through 2023.
Delta is one of five North American operators with firm orders for a total of 295 of the former Bombardier CSeries family.
Both New York-based JetBlue and David Neeleman’s planned startup, dubbed Moxy for now, have 60 -300s on order, while Air Canada has signed up for 45 -300s. US regional Republic Airways has a 40-aircraft -300 order on its books, though it was placed when the now-regional-aircraft-focused company owned Denver-based Frontier Airlines and is not likely to be fulfilled.
Airbus lists a backlog of 475 A220s, including 404 -300s. The manufacturer’s January update removed five -100s slated for Swiss charter carrier PrivatAir, which ceased operations in December 2018.
The variety of North American operators suggests the A220’s much-touted versatility will be tested…
