Aviation

AirBaltic places order for 10 more A220 aircraft

airBaltic, the Latvian flag carrier, exercised the option to purchase 10 additional Airbus A220-300 aircraft, increasing their total order to 90.

These options originated from the additional purchase rights for an additional 20 A220-300 aircraft during the Dubai Airshow, when airBaltic placed a firm order for 30 A220-300 aircraft. This is the fourth time airBaltic ordered the A220 aircraft, increasing its total firm order to 90 A220 aircraft.

This is in line with their fleet expansion plans to operate approximately 100 A220-300 aircraft by 2030, with the 40 aircraft on order slated to be delivered from 2026. Currently operating a fleet of 48 A220-300 aircraft, airBaltic is the largest operator of the A220 in Europe, and the largest A220-300 operator in the world.

The Latvian flag carrier bases these aircraft out of 4 main airports, Tampere, Tallinn, Vilnius and its main hub, Riga. airBaltic was also the launch customer for the A220 aircraft in 2016, and has operated an A220-exclusive fleet since 2020, retiring its then ageing Boeing 737 and Bombardier Q400 fleet.

airBaltic offers flights within Europe, usually connecting major cities together through their hubs located in the Baltic States using a hub-and-spoke strategy. Currently, the airline operates more than 130 routes from its 4 main hubs and Gran Canaria, a seasonal hub.

Marking this occasion, Martin Gauss, President and CEO of airBaltic praised the A220 for playing a part in the ‘success story of airBaltic’, further emphasising this order as a show of confidence in the A220 program.

Over the years, this aircraft type has proven its operational capabilities and value – it has been the backbone of our operations and has played an integral role in the international success story of airBaltic. By exercising these options, we are strengthening our unwavering support and trust in the A220 Programme and are looking forward to our fleet expansion over the upcoming years.

The A220 can carry up to 150 passengers on flights up to 3,600 nautical miles (6,700km), with the largest cabin in its class, enabling a 2-3 abreast configuration to be feasible, together with the largest cabin, seats and windows in its category. At the end of July 2024, the A220 aircraft have had more than 900 orders from around 30 customers of the A220.

An Airbus A220-300 aircraft on an aerial display

Aviation

China Eastern Receives Its Ninth C919 Aircraft, Marking a New Milestone

China Eastern Airlines (CEA) has reached a significant milestone with the delivery of its ninth COMAC C919 aircraft, continuing its lead as the launch customer for China’s domestic narrow-body airliner.

On Thursday, the airline received the latest addition to its fleet, registered as B-657T, marking another step in China’s ambitious efforts to establish itself as a key player in the global aerospace market.

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This delivery is part of a major achievement for COMAC (Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China), which has now delivered a total of 10 comac c919 in 2024 alone, a remarkable increase from just three jets delivered by the end of 2023.

The C919 program represents China’s entry into the competitive market for commercial aircraft, aiming to rival the dominance of manufacturers like Airbus and Boeing in the narrow-body sector.

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One standout feature of the c919 is its innovative in-flight technology, particularly its Wi-Fi system. Developed by the China Electronics Technology Group Corporation (CETC), this system allows passengers to connect to the “CEAIR-WIFI” wireless hotspot, providing seamless access to in-flight entertainment.

Through the website www.muflyer.com, travelers can enjoy a range of features including “Air Cinema” and “Air Games,” which enhance the flying experience.

Looking ahead, COMAC’s ambitions are not limited to narrow-body aircraft. At the 15th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition in Zhuhai, c919 aircraft price made waves with the announcement of over 100 new aircraft orders.

A significant highlight was a high-profile agreement with Air China for the development of the C929, a widebody aircraft set to compete c919 vs a320 and c919 vs 737 with these models.