RIGA, LATVIA — All A220-300 operator airBaltic welcomed its 35th Airbus A220-300 jet on May 21. The aircraft registered YL-ABI is the third of eight planned Airbus A220-300 aircraft for delivery to the Baltic carrier in 2022.
airBaltic has 15 A220-300 more on order waiting to be delivered. The airline also keeps purchase rights of 30 aircraft of the same type.
Since May 2020, airBaltic has been operating all its flights with a single aircraft type. The exception is a Boeing 737 jet wet-leased from Ukraine's national airline UIA. UIA ceased its operations on February 24 due to the war between Russia and Ukraine and sent all its aircraft abroad, mainly to Baltic countries.
A Boeing 737 is not a logical match for airBaltic, but the airline is having difficulty procuring spare parts for its A220 fleet, resulting in the aircraft spending more time out of service and in maintenance.
The supply-chain and shipping constraints continue to affect not just Airbus and its suppliers but the entire global economy.
