The coronavirus pandemic has highlighted the failings of some plane types while shining
a light on the advantages of others.
With passenger flights down 81%, the mass grounding of big, inefficient jets has been
commonplace. However, for one plane type, more than half the worldwide fleet has remained
operational, even through the worst of the crisis...
This type is the Airbus A220.
The popularity of the A220 has shaken up the narrowbody jet world.
Since acquiring and rebranding the Bombardier product in 2018, the orders for the type have
continued to roll in. From Delta’s massive 95 plane order to Air Austral’s modest booking
for three, it seems airlines are keen to make use of the small aircraft for a variety of
short- to medium-haul routes. In the wake of the coronavirus crisis, there
have been clear winners and losers. Big, lumbering quad-jets like the A380 were the first to
be grounded, with many looking unlikely to ever return to passenger service again. The
A220, on the other hand, has largely remained ungrounded; in fact, around half were tracked
by Cirium as still being in service in mid-May. A review of Delta’s fleet activity at the
end of April showed that every single one of its 31 A220-100s were still in use by the
airline. The second-largest operator, SWISS, is planning to resume 140 weekly flights from
Zurich and 40 from Geneva next month. You can bet that the first aircraft it brings
back for these routes will be its 29 A220s. And then, of course, we have airBaltic, which
has taken the challenge of the pandemic as an opportunity to review its fleet strategy.
Although it had always planned to become an all-A220 airline, the coronavirus crisis has
accelerated the retirement of its Dash-8s and 737s, allowing it to resume operations
with a leaner, greener, single fleet type.
But why is the A220 doing so well, and what does this say about the pandemic and the future
of air travel?
There are a few things about the aircraft to understand in terms of its incredible success.
Firstly, it’s small and incredibly efficient. That means it can fly about as far as an A320,
but with fewer passengers and lower fuel burn. It’s lighter than the A320 and has the most
modern generation of engines, making it remarkably cost-effective to operate.
In these uncertain times, flying fewer passengers is a good thing. Being able to do it cheaply
is even better. This is clearly demonstrated in the high number
that have remained in service, even through the worst of the crisis.
Although SWISS didn’t operate many flights in May, of those it did, 83% used the A220.
The A220 is a clear win for passengers too. Wider seats, bigger windows, and reduced noise
onboard all lead to a calmer, more reassuring environment. The large, modern bathrooms and
airy cabins give a better sense of space.
Therefore, while social distancing may not end up being practical, passengers may feel
less ‘packed in’ on this gamechanging narrowbody jet.
Although the future of the aviation industry hangs in the balance, airlines are still confident
on the position of the A220 in their fleets. Air Canada has accelerated the retirement
of no less than 79 aircraft but still plans to take its full allocation of A220s this
year.
JetBlue, too remains committed to taking its first A220 in the second half of 2020 and
there’s no change to the Air France delivery dates either.
Airbus remains cautious, committing to sticking with its four-aircraft-a-month production
rate but delaying the ramp-up in output until the dust settles.
Nevertheless, it opened its new A220 production facility in Alabama recently, signaling its
continued confidence in the type and cementing its ability to boost production when the time
is right. Whether the coronavirus crisis becomes a catalyst
for the narrowbody’s popularity remains to be seen.
What is clear, however, is that those operating the type are finding it well suited to the
turbulent situation we are in right now. Have you flown on the A220? How do you rate
it as a plane? Let us know in the comments below.