Delta Air Lines leads U.S. operation of Airbus A220

Delta's initial revenue flight with the A220 occurred in early 2019 between New York's LaGuardia Airport and Boston Logan International Airport. Presently, the airline asserts that the A220 models, particularly the -100 series, are ideal for city pairs like New York City, Dallas, and Kansas City. Meanwhile, the -300 variant primarily serves more unique routes.

The A220 has been well received by passengers, praised for its spacious cabin layout with an exceptionally wide center aisle and a five-abreast seating configuration that lacks a middle seat on the left side. The aircraft's fuel-efficient engines contribute to a quieter cabin environment, while larger overhead bins offer additional convenience for carry-on luggage.

Development of the A220 originally occurred under Bombardier, who marketed it as the "C Series." After Bombardier encountered financial and competitive challenges, in 2018 they sold the program to Airbus. The US market was initially threatened by tariffs on the C Series before it was rebranded as the Airbus A220. Airbus now controls the program, with manufacturing based in Mirabel, Quebec, and a second assembly line in Mobile, Alabama for the U.S. market.

Worldwide, over 400 A220s are being used by 20 airlines, with significant popularity in Europe and North America. Airbus's report shows a remaining backlog of 498 A220s, out of the 904 ordered since 2009.

Delta is notably one of the few remaining operators of the A220-100 series, as commercial airline interest in this variant has waned due to its limited capacity and range compared to regional jets. Regardless, Delta continues to utilize the A220-100 alongside its Boeing 717 fleet for short-haul needs, providing passengers with an alternative to the smaller regional jets.