Airbus A220 fleet plans face uncertainty as carriers shrink operations and engine availability limits smaller single-aisle aircraft growth.
AirBaltic Fleet Cuts
AirBaltic is reducing its fleet from 54 to 36 aircraft under a financial restructuring plan filed under Chapter 11 in the United States, zdopravy.cz reported. The Latvian carrier operates exclusively A220-300 jets and leases 46 of those 54 machines. It has already asked a New York court to end lease agreements for nine units.
The airline is also scaling back its ACMI leasing partnerships with Lufthansa Group. A previous agreement allowed the leasing of up to 21 airBaltic aircraft with crews during the summer season, but a new contract signed on November 9 caps that at six planes in the summer and four in the winter.
Swiss Aircraft Retirements
Swiss is gradually retiring all nine of its A220-100 jets following the winter 2026/2027 flight schedule. The Swiss carrier already uses two of the smaller aircraft as spare parts sources, is phasing out three more, and plans to fly the final four through the summer 2027 season.
The airline is evaluating the retirement of all 21 larger A220-300 jets during the 2030s. The goal is to unify short-haul operations around the A320 family to cut maintenance costs and personnel training expenses. Swiss will also completely end its partnership with airBaltic after the winter 2026/2027 schedule ends.
“Operational and economic problems, including long-term limited availability of Pratt & Whitney engines,” drive these changes, according to carriers and industry experts cited by zdopravy.cz.
Ongoing Airbus Orders
Despite reductions by initial operators, other airlines continue adding the single-aisle type to their fleets. Lufthansa City Airlines expects its first A220-300 delivery this year as part of an order for 40 jets with options for 20 more.
Poland’s LOT placed an order last year for 40 aircraft across both versions with purchase rights for another 44 units, with deliveries scheduled to begin in 2027. Air France took delivery of its 60th A220-300 in November, joining operators like Delta Air Lines, Air Canada, Qantas, ITA Airways, and ČSA, which flies four units.
Airbus recorded 1,105 total orders for the A220 family by the end of October, delivering 559 of those aircraft to date.
Fleet Restructuring Questions
Why is airBaltic reducing its A220 fleet size?
The airline is cutting its fleet from 54 to 36 aircraft as part of a financial restructuring under US Chapter 11 bankruptcy laws.
How many A220-100 aircraft does Swiss operate?
Swiss is retiring all nine of its A220-100 jets. Two are already used for spare parts, three are being phased out, and the final four will fly until the end of the summer 2027 season.
When will LOT receive its new Airbus aircraft?
LOT will begin taking delivery of its 40 ordered A220 aircraft starting in 2027, with options to purchase an additional 44 units.
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