AIRLINE REVIEW
2 The new airBaltic MRO facility at Riga International Airport , set for completion by 2026 , will significantly boost the airline ’ s maintenance , repair , and overhaul capabilities .
3 The airBaltic Airbus A220- 300 ( YL-ABD ), is parked on the tarmac under an overcast sky at Riga International Airport ( RIX )
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THE AIRBUS A220-300 : BIGGER ISN ’ T BETTER , IT ’ S JUST RIGHT
airBaltic ’ s fleet of Airbus A220- 300s , known for their efficiency , speak to the airline ’ s forwardthinking strategy . By the end of 2024 , the airline expects to receive its 50th of the type . At the 2023 Dubai Airshow , BT ordered 30 A220-300s and further confirmed an incremental order for an additional 10 in August 2024 . The latest reorder will take the airline ’ s total firm order to 90 A220s . airBaltic plans to operate a fleet of 100 of these aircraft by 2030 , solidifying its position as one of the largest A220 operators in the world . Since November 2016 , when it received its first Bombardier CS300 — the original maker and name of the Airbus A220-300 — airBaltic has achieved impressive milestones with its fleet of 48 of these aircraft , which have made approximately 178,000 flights , carried nearly 16,276,000 passengers , and flown
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392,000 block hours . Being the 2016 launch customer , airBaltic had transitioned to an exclusive A220-300 fleet by April 2020 , having streamlined its operations by retiring its Fokker F50s , Bombardier Dash Q400s , Boeing 737s , and 757s . Nevertheless , even the most reliable machines can be prone to issues .
airBaltic has encountered — and sorted — technical challenges with its Pratt & Whitney Geared Turbofan ( GTF ) PW1500G engines . These issues have notably hampered operational capacity , resulting in the grounding of at least 11 A220s and causing schedule disruptions throughout the summer season .
ENGINE WOES
airBaltic ’ s problems with the PW1500G engines have included
34 AIRWAYS MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2024 www . airwaysmag . com