JetBlue is the latest airline to take delivery of the Airbus A220. JetBlue took delivery of its first A220-300 on December 31, 2020. The airline has now revealed what the interiors of these planes will look like, as well as the first regularly schedule route to get the plane, and there’s a lot to look forward to.
In this post:
JetBlue took delivery of its first Airbus A220
In mid-2018 JetBlue placed an order for up to 70 Airbus A220-300s, which will be an exciting addition to the carrier’s fleet. Several months ago pictures emerged of the first JetBlue Airbus A220, and it sure is gorgeous.
The A220 is a beautiful plane to begin with — it kind of looks like a mini-A350 — and I think the JetBlue livery looks particularly sharp on it, especially with the engines and custom tail design (in the below picture the second shade of blue around the front of the engines and the orange along the leading edge of the wings is just temporary).
JetBlue’s first Airbus A220-300
JetBlue’s first Airbus A220-300
The plane was manufactured at Airbus’ new US facility in Mobile, Alabama, which is in part intended to avoid tariffs.
We knew that JetBlue planned to take delivery of its first Airbus A220 in 2020, and that happened… just barely. On New Year’s Eve, JetBlue’s first A220 flew from Mobile to New York. The flight took just over two hours, cruised at 41,000 feet, and landed at JFK at 7:35PM.
JetBlue Airbus A220 cabin interiors revealed
JetBlue has now revealed its A220 interiors. JetBlue’s A220s will feature a total of 140 seats, including:
- 30 Even More Space seats, featuring 35″ of pitch
- 110 regular economy seats, featuring 32″ of pitch
Here’s what else we can expect:
- Seats will be in a 2-3 configuration, and will feature 18.6″ of width, the widest available for a single aisle aircraft, and the widest in JetBlue’s fleet
- Adjustable headrests with new vegan leather material
- In-seat power, including AC, USB-A, and USB-C ports
- 10.1″, 1080P high definition personal televisions at every seat
- 30 channels of DIRECTV with DVR-like pause and rewind functionality, full seasons of shows, hundreds of movies, and premium content from HBO & SHOWTIME
- 3D flight map offering multiple ways to track time to destination
- Personal handheld device pairing capabilities for use as a remote or gaming controller
- Expanded Fly-Fi connectivity, providing coverage to nearly the entire JetBlue network
Here are some pictures of JetBlue’s A220 cabin interiors:
JetBlue Airbus A220-300 cabin interior
JetBlue Airbus A220-300 cabin interior
JetBlue A220 seats
JetBlue A220 seats
JetBlue A220 overhead bins
JetBlue Airbus A220s will replace Embraer 190s
Over time JetBlue’s A220s will replace the carrier’s fleet of 60 Embraer 190s, which are expected to be retired by 2025. JetBlue will be taking delivery of A220s rather gradually — the airline will take delivery of seven of these in 2021, so the planes will still be quite rare for the coming year.
JetBlue notes that the A220 boasts nearly 30% lower direct operating costs per seat than the E190. Not only that, but it’s also expected that the A220 will have 40% lower maintenance costs per seat than the E190.
Where will JetBlue fly A220s?
The beauty of the A220 is just how versatile it is. The plane has a range of 3,350nm, so it could operate both short haul flights (including business markets) and transcon flights (including “thinner” routes) with ease.
Here’s what JetBlue is planning for A220 routes:
- The airline will begin flying the A220 this spring, but hasn’t yet revealed on what routes
- Starting in mid-June, JetBlue will fly the A220 on the Boston to Fort Lauderdale route, which is the first confirmed route so far
- While the A220 will initially operate between focus cities, it’s noted that new cities, routes, and markets, will be evaluated in the future as more A220s join JetBlue’s fleet
Bottom line
Delta is the first US airline to take delivery of the Airbus A220-300 (the airline already has the A220-100), and then JetBlue is the second (and then startup Breeze will be behind JetBlue).
JetBlue’s first A220 was delivered to the airline on December 31, and should enter service in the coming months. Seven more A220s will join the carrier’s fleet in 2021. We now also know what the interiors of these planes will look like, and they’re beautiful.
The A220 is an incredible aircraft thanks to its comfortable cabin, great economics, and long range. Combine that with JetBlue’s excellent onboard product (the best of any US airline in economy), and this plane should be a pleasure to fly.
Are you excited to fly JetBlue’s A220?
Less legroom than ever on Jetblue? Fun!
Ben this is the 3rd variant of an article on this topic and it's really unclear what the new content is!
So please consider in future posting these as new articles.
@Azamaraal @derek Blame Trudeau? You should be blaming Trump and his administration. I don't think Trudeau is perfect, but he really isn't at fault here.
Bombardier had no choice but to sell to Airbus once the US bowed to Boeing and slapped a 300% tariff because Boeing was afraid it would hurt them (even though they no longer make a plane in that size) and accused Bombardier of dumping. Yes, eventually most of that tariff...
@Azamaraal @derek Blame Trudeau? You should be blaming Trump and his administration. I don't think Trudeau is perfect, but he really isn't at fault here.
Bombardier had no choice but to sell to Airbus once the US bowed to Boeing and slapped a 300% tariff because Boeing was afraid it would hurt them (even though they no longer make a plane in that size) and accused Bombardier of dumping. Yes, eventually most of that tariff was struck down, the damage had been done. By selling to Airbus, the C-Series/A220 could then be made in the US in Alabama and avoid many of those tariffs.
If you really wanted it to stay with Bombardier and Canada, you should have convinced Air Canada and WestJet to purchase more of the aircraft. Having Delta be the launch customer in the Americas was a missed opportunity Canadian airlines could have jumped on.
@ WaywardAlpaca
The CRJ200 is inconsequential to this conversation
+1 for Azamaraal for managing a reference to Dief the Chief
Some of us are really old:-)
Normally I don't pay too much attention to little things like "vegan leather", but agreed with the comments above. Jeeze, that is a perfect example of how hyper-sensitive people are today. Give me a break...
Can we just resume calling vegan leather "vinyl"? I mean, really.
Vegan leather is far superior for the planet.
Excited to see what routes this plane will be used on. I have a feeling that Jetblue will really leverage this plane in Boston to launch those long thing routes in needs to in order to remain uber-competitive.
What’s with all the vegan leather today ?
I agree, Trudeau is an idiot for many reasons and also anti-American
As stated - this is a Bombardier C300 manufactured by Airbus. They bought the plane and the name for $1 (or so).
I am furious with Trudeau for forcing the sale of this wonderful Canadian design by not supporting Canadian high tech. The fool should put this on his resume as he takes credit for everything that Canada is doing wrong these days.
Still angry with Diefenbaker for cancelling and burning the Avro Arrow in...
As stated - this is a Bombardier C300 manufactured by Airbus. They bought the plane and the name for $1 (or so).
I am furious with Trudeau for forcing the sale of this wonderful Canadian design by not supporting Canadian high tech. The fool should put this on his resume as he takes credit for everything that Canada is doing wrong these days.
Still angry with Diefenbaker for cancelling and burning the Avro Arrow in favour of Kennedy's Bomark missile scheme. But then, all the Avro engineers went to NASA and put men on the moon.
@Regis - the CRJ200 was designed by Canadair, not Bombardier.
@ Sean. I am with you here. JetBlue’s E190 are close to perfect, passenger-wise. You get the conveniences of a regional jet (fast boarding/deplaning, fewer passengers) with the comfort of the big planes. The 2X2 seat configuration, done properly as in the E190, cannot be beat. If you prefer 3X2, I think you have never been stuck in a middle seat for 3.5 hours. No thank you. The cost savings are considerable, so it makes...
@ Sean. I am with you here. JetBlue’s E190 are close to perfect, passenger-wise. You get the conveniences of a regional jet (fast boarding/deplaning, fewer passengers) with the comfort of the big planes. The 2X2 seat configuration, done properly as in the E190, cannot be beat. If you prefer 3X2, I think you have never been stuck in a middle seat for 3.5 hours. No thank you. The cost savings are considerable, so it makes sense for JetBlue. Not so much for passengers. As noted above, this is a 100% Bombardier design. The same airplane maker that gave us the CRJ 200, responsible for more deep vein thrombosis, muscle injuries and back pain in passengers than any other airplane in history.
A reminder that Airbus did not design this plane.
Bombardier did under the C Series label.
I like it when aircraft designers gives airlines no choice to reconfigure seats with less than 18" in width. The A220 is a fine example of not having any of Boeing's 17" width BS.
It's worth noting that B6' delivery schedule for the A220 is for a handful for the next several years and then their deliveries will pick up in several years. They will be fairly rare until then.
Also, United has the oldest fleet among US airlines.
The engine placement looks pretty far forward. Just saying
Moxy? That name went by the wayside long ago. Why not refer to it as Breeze?
@Chris Apparently HEPA wasn't available on "all aircraft"
"While many aircraft types can be fitted with the filters, for much of the pandemic, Embraer’s smaller jets, including the ERJ-135, ERJ-140 and the ERJ-145, had yet to receive the enhanced system. However, on Nov. 26, the company released a Service Bulletin that allows for the installation of HEPA filters on all of its ERJ 145 aircraft." https://airlinegeeks.com/2020/12/02/embraer-develops-hepa-filtration-kits-for-installation-on-erj-145-aircraft/
@Chris Apparently HEPA wasn't available on "all aircraft"
"While many aircraft types can be fitted with the filters, for much of the pandemic, Embraer’s smaller jets, including the ERJ-135, ERJ-140 and the ERJ-145, had yet to receive the enhanced system. However, on Nov. 26, the company released a Service Bulletin that allows for the installation of HEPA filters on all of its ERJ 145 aircraft." https://airlinegeeks.com/2020/12/02/embraer-develops-hepa-filtration-kits-for-installation-on-erj-145-aircraft/
@Kevin B, that's not correct. The only black leading edge you will see on an aircraft are mainly turboprops that utilize and inflatable boot system for anti-icing. They are rubber and inflate and deflate inflight to break up any ice accumulation. This is not utilized on modern jets.
@Sean, A220's have pivot bins so overhead luggage space won't be an issue and the Lavs are awesome, space and design wise
Generally the leading edge of the wing is painted black to make it easy for pilots to identify ice buildups on the wing.
It looks ok. I'm still not a fan of the massive amounts of white.
No interior pics?
Looks almost as good as Air Tanzania A220. Almost.
Now that JetBlue is getting these spiffy A220's, maybe they would see fit to launch more point-to-point flights to/from D.C. (IAD, DCA, BWI). D.C. passengers wanting to fly to the west coast basically have to connect through Boston or New York, which is basically going backwards.
Its a new plane mostly white with artwork on the tail and engines. No big deal. Just like the 100 other airlines with the same
@John Luffred - Delta has been adding new planes to their fleet continuously for years, what are you talking about?? 737-800s, A220-100s, A350s and A330 neos. Also the 767-400s aren't that old, and even the oldest planes in Delta's fleet feel fresh and new. I flew a 21 year old 757-200 last week and it felt like it was at most a few years old...
@Sean - As someone who has flown an a220 before (Delta -100), and regularly flew on B6's e190's for years, I can assure you this will be a massive step up, middle seat be damned.
Lucky: why do you love this plane?
Am I the ONLY PERSON not drinking the kool-aid on Jetblue's A220?!? Yes, it's a new plane, which is always nice, but it's replacing B6's E190 which is--by far--the most comfortable economy seat on any US airline. Also:
1. This plane adds 40 seats to the plane it's replacing. So enjoy longer boarding, deplaning and wait for your checked bags.
2. This plane adds a MIDDLE...
Lucky: why do you love this plane?
Am I the ONLY PERSON not drinking the kool-aid on Jetblue's A220?!? Yes, it's a new plane, which is always nice, but it's replacing B6's E190 which is--by far--the most comfortable economy seat on any US airline. Also:
1. This plane adds 40 seats to the plane it's replacing. So enjoy longer boarding, deplaning and wait for your checked bags.
2. This plane adds a MIDDLE SEAT on one side. I don't care that it's a whopping 1" wider, no one wants a middle seat!
3. We still don't know the layout, but without a doubt it won't have the extremely generous legroom of the E190 (core seat: 33" that feels even bigger, and 37" in EMS). The AirBaltic variant has 145 seats at 32". I'm sure B6 will remove the front closet & cook area, but that's only going to add 20" more space at most...and with 5 rows of EMS each getting at least 5" more, that means the core seats must have less legroom than E190.
Bottom line: B6 E190 flights are amazing because with only 100 pax, they board in ~15 minutes. The seats are wide & legroom is best in economy. The bathrooms aren't cramped like almost every other narrowbody (although I get that A220 bathrooms are supposed to be nice). The only downside to E190 is the overhead baggage bins. But replacing them with a plane that adds 40% more passengers, a middle seat and what's sure to be less legroom isn't an improvement!
Sean. You are correct on your projections on the A220. I just took red-eye from Portland to Boston in the 2nd row with the 2 seat side and the width was very good w armrest up, the legroom is good but not as good as on their other A320 series jets. The cabin crew were not uniformly friendly and were brusk w overhead bin rules which on this full flight took a very long time...
Sean. You are correct on your projections on the A220. I just took red-eye from Portland to Boston in the 2nd row with the 2 seat side and the width was very good w armrest up, the legroom is good but not as good as on their other A320 series jets. The cabin crew were not uniformly friendly and were brusk w overhead bin rules which on this full flight took a very long time to board. They did well with cabin dimming with few announcements on overnight flights. It’s worth it on balance for non-stop access on thinner or shorter routes and fuel efficiency but full-size plane may also have filled and been a more comfortable trip.
DELTA'S FLEET IS THE OLDEST IN THE INDUSTRY!
767-400
AND 757 TO EUROPE?
NO THANKS!
DELTA WILL NOT GET NEW PLANES FOR A LONG TIME!
@johhny
All aircraft have HEPA filters. This was always a thing pre-covid even.
Will be exciting to learn the routes.
With slack demand in the near term this jet could be the right capacity for a lot of routes.
Does it have HEPA filtration?
are they keeping the orange on the leading edge of the wing? that would look so cool!