Airbus A220 to Fly on Longer Delta Connection Routes

The wait for a ride aboard a Delta-branded A220 is nearing an end. With the first of Delta’s 75 Airbus A220-100s expected to arrive by year-end 2018, and the first departures slated for Q1 2019, the airline is beginning to put structure around where its newest birds will nest.

We’ve reported prior that New York would be the first locale to see the A220-100 (formerly known as the Bombardier CS100), and now we’re hearing that it’ll likely be used on some of the lengthier Delta Connection routes across the board. Per FlightGlobal, Delta’s Senior Vice President of Network Planning Joe Esposito recently spoke at the Boyd Group International Aviation Forecast Summit in Denver, stating: “Where we’re purposely putting [the A220s] is to improve our product on our longest haul [Embraer] 175 or [Bombardier] CRJ900s, into thinner business markets. In the short-term, we’re probably going to use it to upgrade some of our longer haul Delta Connection flights.”

He wouldn’t go so far as to name specific markets, but it was clear that key business markets — where passengers routinely look at which aircraft an airline is flying before booking — will be first to adopt the A220. While some may prefer the 2-2 seating arrangement on the E-175 and CRJ900, the flip side is this: At least the A220 has one side of just two seats, whereas most other mainline jets only offer rows with middle seats.

We’re expecting most of the A220 fleet to touch Delta’s largest hubs: Atlanta, New York, Seattle, Salt Lake City, Minneapolis, Detroit and Los Angeles. That said, a few could filter into focus cities, where E-175 and CRJ900 aircraft operate with regularity. Once Delta reveals the formal schedule, we’ll be on board to bring you a full review of the aircraft.