JetBlue Airways and a U.S. start-up called Moxy firmed up their orders for 60 A220-300 aircraft each. This appears to be the first time the Toulouse-based manufacturer managed to secure firm orders since acquiring the A220 program from Bombardier in July 2018.
Airbus broke the news on January 3, 2019, noting both orders was completed the last week of December, roughly half a year after they were signed and announced as Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) in July 2018.
Back then, it was also announced that JetBlue’s (JBLU) A220s are going to be powered by Pratt & Whitney Geared Turbofan (GTF) PW1500G engines and delivery should begin in 2020. The carrier was also looking into an option for 60 additional A220s, their delivery beginning in 2025. The A220s are going to replace JetBlue’s (JBLU) existing fleet of 60 Embraer E190 aircraft. Similarly, Moxy’s jets are also to be powered by Pratt & Whitney GTF, with the delivery date in 2021, as announced previously.
As for the A220, Airbus has high hopes for its future. “With an order book of more than 500 aircraft to date, the A220 has all the credentials to win the lion’s share of the 100- to 150-seat aircraft market estimated to represent at least 7,000 aircraft over the next 20 years,” it notes in a statement.
A220-100 and A220-300 are 100 and 150 seats aircraft formerly known as Bombardier C Series: CS100 and CS300 (accordingly). Airbus and Bombardier closed their C Series agreement in June 2018, integrating the aircraft family to the European manufacturer’s catalogue from July 1, 2018.
As of November 30, 2018, Airbus held a total of 402 orders for A220s: 123 of A220-100 and 279 of A220-300 version. All deals were inherited from Bombardier, as Airbus lists zero orders of either A220-100 or A220-300 in 2018 (up until November 30). Well, until now.