Article from BTNews 6 JANUARY 2020
A220 makes waves in Canada and France
Designed, built and delivered from the Airbus Mirabel facility in Canada, the first A220-300 out of an order of 45 arrived at Air Canada over the festive season and is scheduled to enter service this month between Montreal and Calgary.
It followed the Air France-KLM Group firming up an order for 60 A220-300s for Air France as that carrier moves to modernise its single-aisle fleet. It is the largest A220 order from a European carrier to date.
The Air Canada launch will make the airline the first to operate the aircraft in North America. It is planned to serve various routes in Canada and the US with a dual-class cabin with 12 Business Class seats and 125 Economy Class.
Deputy chief executive Michael Rousseau said: “This is a highly-anticipated moment as we welcome this game-changing aircraft, the next step in our fleet modernisation and a further step in our environmental commitment thanks to its improved efficiency.
“As the only aircraft purpose-built for the small single-aisle market segment, it will enable us to open new routes that were previously not feasible and strengthen our position on transborder and transcontinental markets.”
Airbus Canada chief executive Philippe Balducci added: “Canadians will soon be able to fly on a Canadian-designed and assembled aircraft for the first time in the distinctive and emblematic maple leaf livery that symbolises Canada worldwide.”
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