A220 in Africa

Airbus

AIR TANZANIA has become the first African airline to receive the Airbus A220, the twin-jet formerly known as the C Series and the newest addition to the Airbus commercial aircraft family.

The first of two A220-300s for the airline, 5H-TCH (msn 55047), was handed over at the A220 assembly line in Mirabel shortly before Christmas, with the second (5H-TCI, msn 55048) due to follow in January.

The A220s will be used to develop Air Tanzania’s network to India and the Middle East from its home base at Dar es Salaam, with the airline’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Offcer Ladislaus Matindi saying the aircraft would enable the airline to “expand our footprint in the growing African markets and beyond, as we unlock additional routes and regain our position as a key player in the African air transport market”.

Air Tanzania is the fifth airline to receive the A220 after Swiss, Air Baltic, Korean Air and Delta Air Lines. The aircraft, purposebuilt for the 100-to-150 seats market segment, is set to enter service with Delta next. Mark Broadbent