What’s so dang special about the Airbus A220?

The Airbus A220 (uh…I mean the Bombardier C Series) is arguably the most important aircraft design of the last 20 years. Thanks fo the fact that many airlines are currently facing the problem of massive over-capacity on most routes, It’s entry into the market is likely to go down in history as being timed dead-nuts perfectly. Well, it may not be referred to exactly like that. But you know what I mean.

Things are changing fast in the commercial aviation industry

The Airbus A220 is about to change everything. Like it or not, this is the aircraft of the future, folks . I’m so dense that I didn’t fully realize it until about a month ago.

I know. They said the same thing about the Ford Pinto when it was unveiled to the world back in 1970, but this time it’s different. Really. Why? Well, there’s lots of reasons, the most important of which is that it looks so much better than the Pinto ever did. And, at the time of this writing, it tends to catch on fire less as well.

But there’s a lot more to it than that, and I’d like to highlight those points for you now (one by one):

1. Industry-leading range

With a range of 3500 nm, the A220 has the ability to fly from New York to London. Tokyo to Singapore. Fort Wayne Indiana to Cartagenia Columbia (which has high probability of being the launch route for SANspotter Air btw).

Think about that. This aircraft, similar in size to smaller variants of the 737, has the range to safely connect destinations on separate continents in a way that only larger (and more expensive) aircraft could do before.

I know we all like to joke about how United would use those little CRJ-200’s from Los Angeles to London if they could, but the A220 is one giant step towards that goal.

Smaller, more efficient aircraft types on routes where larger aircraft aren’t profitable is the future. I hope everyone enjoyed their rides on all those 747s and A380s over the past 10 years or so. Sadly, with retirements of these magnificent beasts happening so fast, my first flight on a Qatar Airways A380 was probably my last.

I’d even recommend starting to practice phrases such as: “My Doha to Bangkok flight in A220 business class was AMAAAZING” instead. I know it sounds weird, but it may not be long until we’re all saying crazy stuff like that.

2. Class-leading efficiency

Smaller and more fuel-efficient aircraft are more profitable on longer routes. The performance of both the A350 and 787 in comparison to larger aircraft types are proof of that.

The A220, of course, is the result of pushing that idea even further. With over 642 orders on the books at the time of this recording, its clear that airlines are doubling down on being anti-747 and A380.

Adding fuel to the fire (perhaps a bad analogy to be making after comparing the a220 to the pinto earlier) is the fact that the COVID-19 pandemic has all but destroyed the air travel industry.

Passenger traffic across the globe is down 75% year over year as I’m writing this article, I’m still grounded, and it’s going to be many years before airlines are able to fill airplanes again. The Airbus A220 is the perfect aircraft for this new world we have found ourselves in.

Sending empty A330s between Buenos Aries and Bogoata is bleeding Avianca dry. However, it’s highly likely a route like that could be profitable sending A220s instead.

3. More flexible than Richard Simmons

One of the biggest problems airlines are facing right now is over-capacity. They simply have too many airplanes, most of which are far too large for current demand. Aircraft storage facilities are full, and many of those parked airplanes won’t fly again for another few years. At least.

However, airlines with the A220 in their fleet have an advantage, since the aircraft is small and efficient enough to fly shorter routes profitably.

For example, if SANspotter Air was a thing, and I found that demand from Ft Wayne to Cartagena dried up suddenly (hard to fathom, I know), I could put those A220s on routes like San Diego to Regina instead and still be profitable.

Speaking of massive flexibility, I just gotta wonder what the conversations have been like in the Emirates board room lately. With a fleet of hundreds of widebody aircraft and not much else, I’m willing to bet they aren’t laughing so hard about the SANspotter Air thing anymore….

4. It just looks good

Ok. I know. I do realize that the looks of an object have little to do with how well it will sell. Again, I refer you to the Pinto comparison: Ford pooped out a poorly-performing, bland looking car which was prone to catching on fire, BUT – they promised it would be cheap and get great gas mileage. The result? It became one of the best selling cars in US history.

Airbus is essentially doing the same thing with the A220. Minus the fire thing, poor performance, and the bland looks…

Ok, this analogy isn’t working like I thought it would. But the point is that it’s a great looking airplane, and that is likely to be the driving factor for at least a few orders. It’s just gotta be.

I’m not sure how many airline executives purchase aircraft based on looks, but it worth mentioning and I personally believe it’s going to go down in history as one of the most beautiful aircraft designs ever.

Ready or not: the A220 era is about to begin…

If you haven’t yet flown on an Airbus A220, don’t worry. That opportunity is coming sooner than you think. Smaller aircraft with long range and high-efficiency is the the way forward for commercial aviation.

Not only that, the A220 is quite a bit cheaper than than the 737 MAX series, starting out at $81m for the -100 series, compared to $99m for the MAX 7.

The attractive price, combined with it’s incredible performance AND efficiency means that Boeing (and other aircraft manufacturers) have got a real problem on their hands. Can they even compete? Only time will tell.