Swiss International Air Lines is evaluating the long-term fate of its Airbus A220-100 aircraft, as ongoing issues with the Pratt & Whitney PW1500G engines continue to impact the airline’s operational planning, according to Aviation Week. Although this smaller A220 variant offers certain advantages—such as the ability to land at airports like London City with steep approaches and a higher certified crosswind limit—its cost-effectiveness is increasingly being questioned due to higher operating costs per seat compared to the larger A220-300 model. Swiss currently operates nine A220-100 aircraft alongside 21 A220-300s, though several are grounded due to engine problems.
The issues with PW1500G engines are not isolated—similar difficulties are reported with the PW1100G engines used in the A320neo family. The Lufthansa Group, which owns Swiss, is facing growing challenges in sourcing spare engines and parts, further impacting fleet availability. According to Aviation Week, two A220-100s and three A220-300s in the Swiss fleet are currently out of service due to engine maintenance.
Despite these challenges, airline spokesperson Clarissa Cunz emphasizes that the A220 remains a key component of Swiss’s route network. “The aircraft is modern, efficient, and fits our needs very well,” she said at an Airbus-hosted event in Toulouse, adding that Swiss regularly conducts strategic fleet evaluations, which is standard industry practice.
The airline also considered acquiring six former EgyptAir A220-300 aircraft, but after thorough analysis, it determined that the business case did not justify the investment. While no final decision has been made regarding the retirement of the A220-100, Cunz notes that the airline is openly exploring all options, but for now, the aircraft remains in service.
It’s worth noting that Swiss was the launch operator of the A220-100, originally known as the Bombardier CS100, with the first commercial flight taking place on July 15, 2016. Since then, the aircraft has become an integral part of the fleet, but its future, as reported by Aviation Week, will be the subject of careful strategic consideration in the coming years.
