Airbus A220s To Be Removed?

Cyprus Airways is exploring a future without such a reliance on the Airbus A220 after years of reliability concerns.

Leading industry publication ch-aviation reports that Cyprus Airways is currently assessing the Airbus A320 family, whether through the CEO or NEO models, as a possible aircraft to enhance single-aisle flying amid ongoing concerns about the A220’s reliability.

Crypus Airways has taken delivery of four Airbus A220 aircraft; all are the -300 model, and the fleet averages 3.2 years of age; however, two of the four jets are parked.

Discussions about Cyprus Airways’ feelings toward this Airbus single-aisle model haven’t been kept quiet over the years; earlier this year, the company expressed its desire to explore possible legal action against Pratt & Whitney.

The legal action was coming if it was not to secure an agreement with the engine provider over the continued grounding of the A220 fleet due to ongoing geared turbofan issues. CEO Thanos Pascalis, speaking with Airline Economics, said that while negotiations were ongoing, the situation was an issue.

Even at this point, earlier in 2025, Cyprus Airways was beginning to become frustrated over what it described as recurring and ongoing problems with the GTF engines that were impacting its operations, those frustrations coming at the first anniversary of the groundings.

With wet-leases having come through the years to mitigate the impact, the situation is far from ideal for the business. It has continued to push for a resolution, but unfortunately, it knows the situation has remained out of its control. It, like most other airlines, merely has a passenger.

This feeling follows June 2024 reporting from Aviation Week, which suggested Cyprus Airways was rethinking its strategies and utilisation of the Airbus A220 as it continued to face engine problems, these problems that still haven’t let up as 2026 rapidly approaches.

Many A220 Operators Feel The Same

A possible move away from a long-troubled aircraft such as the A220, which has faced reliability concerns, isn’t uncommon for airlines with a much smaller fleet or a lower reliance on that product.

The impact, therefore, for a company such as Cyprus Airways is colossal; whereas, say, United Airlines would still feel the effects of the groundings, it would have reserve aircraft and the financial position to combat them. Unfortunately, not all companies are in the same boat.

Already, after sharing similar frustrations with Cyprus Airways, Air Austral confirmed at the beginning of November its intention to move forward with the removal of the A220 fleet, a calculated decision to cut long-standing losses with the jet.

The company signed an LOI with Macquarie AirFinance, a move that’ll see deliveries of two Airbus A320neo aircraft scheduled for March and May of 2027, and a lease agreement that will replace the Airbus single-aisle jet.

This is another airline that has long been frustrated by the challenges surrounding the single-aisle Airbus aircraft, which, on paper, has stellar perfromance but has been plagued by reliability concerns for far too long, going on to impact the airline’s operations with the jet.

While Air Austral and other airlines have shown great patience over the years, some are reaching the breaking point, where their frustrations stem not only from reliability woes but also from the inability to get clarity on when the complications will be addressed.

These same airlines are choosing to cut their losses and move forward with other alternatives, certainly Air Austral leading from the front, having confirmed the axing of the type in favour of other single-aisle jets.