Croatia Airlines Takes First A220

Croatia Airlines has taken delivery of its first Airbus A220 following a ceremony at the Mirabel site in Montreal, Canada.

The Airbus A220 is expected to help reshape Croatia Airlines’ future, and the -300 was selected specifically to aid fleet renewal efforts.

The Croatian flag carrier has committed to 13 A220-300s and two A220-100s, with the popular single-aisle viewed as the airline’s next step.

Furthermore, as the airline celebrates its 35th anniversary, what better time than now to bring a massively efficient plane into the route network?

The Airbus A220 will not just bring a 50% reduction in the overall noise footprint but also, in comparison to previous gen types, lower emissions.

Other benefits of the A220 include operating with 100% SAF by 2030, a figure double that of the 50% SAF currently attainable. These initiatives will enable Croatia Airlines to have lower operating costs and be more mindful of its environmental impact.

Thanks to the leading aircraft lessor of Air Lease Corporation (ALC), delivery of the first unit has been facilitated. This is the first of six units in Croatia Airlines’ future with ALC.

Ultimately, ALC is one part of the future delivery for the A220 within the airline as Croatia Airlines also has commitments with Griffin Global Asset Management and Azorra.

The A220 sports a new livery for Croatia Airlines, which is significantly simplified but still keeps core colour elements found on the previous retention. Thus, the arrival of the A220 in the new colours on its 35th anniversary represents a solid time to move forward with a clear, ambitious pathway to the future.

Airbus A220s will be delivered steadily over the next few years and then deployed across the airline’s network on existing and new routes.

The arrival of the A220 also marks a significant turn in the company’s aircraft usage, representing the first proper next-gen type to join the airline’s fleet. Fleet data indicates that other fleet types, such as the A319, A320 and such, all average above 20 years and thus require replacement.