Airbus Delivers Unique A220

Airbus has delivered a unique version of its A220 thus far, marking the first of its kind to be delivered to Croatia Airlines.

The A220-100 model, the smallest in the program, has attracted considerable attention for its 127-seat configuration, a unique feature and a higher-capacity model than what is typically seen around the world.

This smaller variant is notoriously known for its significantly smaller capacity compared to the A220-300, primarily due to its shorter length; however, this model will be able to transport more cargo across journeys.

Ultimately, the A220 also represents part of ongoing efforts to complete a renewal of the business, which will include the addition of up to 15 to help replace older, less efficient models.

Croatia Airlines says the A220 will enable the retirement of older Airbus aircraft and even turboprops, which will reduce fuel burn, lower noise, and also tighten their timetable footprint moving forward.

By the time Croatia Airlines can say it’s done with fleet renewal efforts, it will have 15 of the new A220s in its fleet. As mentioned, this will include 13 of the larger -300s and two of the -100s.

Much of the attention has not just been on this being the first of the A220-100s, but more so that this new aircraft has many more seats compared to other -100 models currently in the world.

The first unit, registered as 9A-CAO, has also been named Dubrovnik and joins many other already active -300 jets in the fleet. This is the first of the -100.

A Busy Period For The A220

It has been a busy month for the Airbus A220 program, with the planemaker confirming that it will evolve the program to take it to the next level.

That next level will see Airspace brought to the series with the award-winning design being made available for deliveries in 2026 and beyond, with retrofit options to follow for airlines that already fly the series.

The upgrades will enable more innovative features, allowing airlines to raise passenger satisfaction levels and align the product with additional models in the planemakers’ program, such as the A350, A330neo, and A320neo.

The Airspace cabin features XL bins, which are 20% lighter and offer a 15% increase in bag capacity, allowing more passengers to bring their carry-on luggage without fear of limited storage space.

In addition, Airbus confirmed the launch of a 160-seater model, scheduled to arrive in 2027, which is expected to increase the maximum capacity of the existing -30. The -300h currently has limitations in layout customisation due to regulations.