Where have the A220s gone?

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Right next to the A321neos – parked

Pop quiz – what do an A220 and half the A321neo fleet have in common?

I’ll give you three hints: G, T, and F.

This week appears to be the week the industry realized the A220 wasn’t exactly reaching its potential. With roughly 25% of the fleet parked – many due to engine issues – the A220 is running into the same problems remaining in service as it’s larger half-sister.

Our original analysis on the A220 groundings was published in May when 24% of the A220-100 fleet was inactive and 22% of the A220-300. Even though we noticed the problems early, it still took us a month to conduct the analysis and publish the research.

Translation: This isn’t exactly a new problem.

The infamous contaminated powdered metal is playing a key role in the unavailability of A220 aircraft, among other legacy engine issues. With inspections reportedly due at either 4,000 or 5,000 cycles (depending on takeoff thrust), the PW1500 HPT disks are in the same line for inspection as the larger, more plentiful PW1100.

The result is a matter of prioritization.

While the PW1100 and PW1500 all share powdered metal issues, the inevitable next question is whether the Embraer E2-mounted PW1900 does as well. Indeed, it does, though at reduced volumes.

Since A220 production preceded the E2 by several years and at higher volumes, the likelihood of a PW1500 engine being built with contaminated metal is higher than for the later-built E2.

This analysis was originally published as part of our May edition of the Aircraft Intelligence Monthly, a Visual Approach Research report. Subscribers can read the full analysis.

Quiz – which aircraft are flying the longest flights on average?

Switching from the narrow to the wide, we’re looking at average stage lengths this week. Which aircraft fly the longest distances, on average?

The 747-8i currently flies the longest on average. Of course, not many 747-8i flights take place, but of the 12,500 747-8i flights during the past 12 months, the average was 4,856 nautical miles.

The rest of the list reads more-or-less as expected – except for the aircraft in the four-spot. It’s rather unexpected. Which is it?

Here’s a hint:

The answer:

Remember the 767 variant deemed too much of a compromise in range to deliver more seats? Yeah, well, it’s operating on the fourth-longest average stage length.

There’s a valid reason for this: the 767-400 exists entirely as a sub-fleet among other, smaller 767s. Only two airlines operate the 767-400, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines, both of which still operate the 767-300ER. (Notably, one 767-400 remains in production with the government of Bahrain but not in commercial service.)

Route map for completeness: