Originally Posted by
tennisguru
Probably a while. While the A220-100 seats the same as a 717, it is not a 717 replacement. The 717 is the short haul workhorse. Only a handful of flights are scheduled over 2 hours in the air. 8-10 cycles a day. The A220 does mostly long and thin routes. We’re not going to run 8 flights a day ATL-CAE on a 220. Most long routes out of ATL have enough demand to fill a 320/321 or 737. Whenever the 717s go away I’ll bet 50%+ of those routes get upgaged to a 737, 30-40% to the real Airbii, and only 10-20% end up on the 220.
Respectfully, the A220 100/300 are both used extensively in Europe on both short & long/thin flights. For example, Air France uses the A220-300 between CDG and London Heathrow multiple times daily and Swiss uses them between Zurich and Paris 7-8 times per day. In the US, both JB and Breeze use the A220-300 on a mix of shorter and longer/thinner routes while Air Canada uses the A220-300s on short flights from Toronto to both LGA & BOS. I understand that the A220 was designed to fly longer/thinner routes, but it can easily do both - even Delta uses the A220 on shorter flights out of SLC (e.g., Idaho Falls & Spokane). It has better unit economics (CASM) than any 737 version or the A319/20. Compare the operating economics of a Delta A319 vs. an A220-300 and there is NO comparison which is more profitable for Delta.
Clearly a big limiting factor is slow production from Airbus and P&W. The production numbers are pathetic. And you can add Boeing's lawsuit against Airbus soon after the acquisition from Bombardier to force US airlines to have their airplanes finished in Mobile instead of BOTH Mobile & Montreal. Why? Because Boeing can't compete and they had to make it a trade issue.
Regardless, if Ed is sincerely interested in improving the inflight experience for business travelers, the 717 will need an interior upgrade. Either that or start rotating more A220s through ATL to serve more business markets. I talk to business travelers in the Dallas area who love the A220 for flights to LGA & BOS.
Still hope that Airbus makes the decision to build the extended A220-500 and announces it at the next big air show this summer (Farnborough or Paris Air Show). Every A220 operator has expressed interest in the A220-500 including Delta, AC, Air France, JB and Breeze. No doubt it would take years to be delivered, but the economics would be very attractive - especially compared to the 737-800/900 and A320/21. Fingers crossed!