Airbus A220 launch delayed

Plans by Delta Air Lines to put its first Airbus A220 into commercial service were called off on Friday because the US government shutdown meant Federal Aviation Administration certification could not be completed.

The launch date for the aircraft, formerly the Bombardier C Series, is now Thursday next week, 7 February. Delta, which has ordered 90 A220s in both the Dash-100 and larger Dash-300 versions, has received four, due to operate services between New York La Guardia, Dallas-Fort Worth and Boston.

In better news for the aircraft, the A220 has received 180min extended operations (ETOPS) approval from the Canadian civil aviation authority, Transport Canada, which makes it OK for eastern North America with 40 flat bed seats from London City Airport (LCY).

The airport already has experience with the A220-100 in its C Series version as the aircraft is used by Swiss International Airlines (SWISS) for its services to Zurich and Geneva.

With the ETOPS development, LCY corporate affairs director Liam McKay says the airport now hopes to certify the A220-300.

Waiting in the wings is start-up carrier Odyssey Airlines, which is planning to launch all-Business Class flights from LCY to New York using the A220. The initial launch date of 2016 was not met and as of this weekend no new date has been announced.

www.delta.com   www.swiss.com   www.flyody.com

www.airbus.com

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