It's official: Delta Air Lines' fleet now features the state-of-the-art and experience-rich Airbus A220-100, slated to debut on scheduled flights in January.
At a ceremony in Mirabel, Quebec, where the Airbus A220, formally known as Bombardier's CSeries jets are made, Delta became the first North American operator of the A220.
"The innovation, creativity and remarkable engineering skills that went into the design and production of this aircraft is simply breathtaking," said Delta CEO Ed Bastian to an audience of Delta, Airbus and Bombardier employees gathered in Mirabel. "The A220 will serve as the cornerstone of our future domestic growth."
Delta's A220 is the latest investment in a fleet modernization program that aims to replace 20% of older, less-efficient aircraft by 2020. The A220 will bring an elevated customer experience to top business routes with features that customers will look forward to every time they fly.
"We at Airbus are dedicated to providing the right products for a marketplace that needs modern, efficient and customer-friendly aircraft — and the remarkable A220 certainly delivers," said Guillaume Faury, President of Airbus's commercial aircraft business. "When a great airline like Delta puts a new aircraft into service, the entire industry takes note. The A220 team is gratified by the confidence that the Delta family has placed in this aircraft."
In addition to a modern interior with a spacious, widebody feel, Delta's A220 will feature best-in-class fuel performance. Powered by Pratt & Whitney's latest geared turbofan PW1500G engine, the A220 takes advantage of advanced technology and composite materials designed to deliver an expected 20% improvement in fuel efficiency over older, similar-sized aircraft when it enters service with Delta.
Inaugural A220 flights are set to depart on Jan. 31 from Delta's hub at New York's LaGuardia Airport to its growing operation at Boston Logan International, and from LaGuardia to top business destination Dallas/Ft. Worth.
Delta's first A220 rolled out of the paint shop in its signature Delta colours and took its first test flight earlier this month. Today, the aircraft will fly from Mirabel to Delta's hometown of Atlanta, where Delta employees will carry out additional induction work and flight crew training on the A220 in the months ahead to finalize readiness for its first customer flight.
(Photos Delta Air Lines)
