Swiss International Air Lines has decided to permanently withdraw two Airbus A220-100 aircraft from its fleet, after they had previously been temporarily grounded as part of measures aimed at stabilizing operations of the larger A220-300 variant. According to Aviation Week, the aircraft in question are registered HB-JBD and HB-JBC. Both had been stored in Toulouse since January and will not return to service.
The two aircraft were delivered to Swiss in 2016, when the type was still known as the Bombardier CS100. Swiss was the launch operator of the model, but current issues with engine availability and spare parts have changed the airline’s operational priorities.
Swiss confirmed to Aviation Week that dismantling the two aircraft is intended to secure components for the airline’s own use. By doing so, the company aims to use parts and resources from the A220-100s to support more reliable operations of its A220-300 fleet, which offers Swiss better economics due to its higher seating capacity.
The key reason behind the move is the ongoing issue with Pratt & Whitney PW1500G geared turbofan engines, which power the A220 family. Engines from the withdrawn A220-100s will be transferred to the larger A220-300s, which are configured with 145 seats. Swiss is therefore prioritizing the aircraft that provide a better balance between capacity and operating costs, especially at a time when GTF engine maintenance and support capacity remains constrained.
The remaining seven A220-100s will also be gradually withdrawn from service and parked for at least 18 months. According to information Swiss provided to Aviation Week, three of those aircraft are currently stored at Toulouse Francazal Airport. The airline is adjusting the exact withdrawal schedule in line with the current operational situation.
However, Swiss has not yet confirmed that the A220-100 has been permanently written off from its long-term fleet plans. The airline says no final decision has been made on the future role of this subfleet. For now, the priority remains stabilizing operations and optimizing costs within the existing fleet, primarily by focusing on the A220-300.
Like a number of other carriers, Swiss is dealing with the consequences of technical issues affecting Pratt & Whitney GTF engines. In addition to the A220 fleet, the airline’s Airbus A320neo-family aircraft, powered by PW1100G engines, are also affected. According to Swiss information cited by Aviation Week, four of the airline’s A320neo aircraft are currently grounded because of engine-related issues.
