Summary
- Delta Air Lines is now deploying its Airbus A220s from the world’s busiest airport on three routes.
- The aircraft type will be the exclusive operator on two longer routes to the west while sharing a route in the east with other aircraft types.
- Delta’s A220-300 accommodates 130 passengers and features WiFi, USB power, and inflight entertainment.
After nearly six years, Delta Air Lines has finally brought one of its newest narrowbody aircraft types to its hometown airport. On Saturday, the US legacy carrier began deploying its Airbus A220s from Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL).
The aircraft will operate three routes from the hub across nearly 200 total flights. While it joins other aircraft types on one route in the east, it will be the exclusive operator on two other longer routes that journey to the west.
ATL’s first A220 routes
According to aviation data and analytics provider Cirium, Delta is utilizing its A220-300 aircraft for the first time at ATL. As the world’s largest operator of the aircraft type, the airline also operates the smaller A220-100 variant. However, it will continue to handle flights at the airline’s other hubs and focus cities. The A220-300 is scheduled to operate three routes out of ATL, serving Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR), Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA), and Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD).
Photo: Robin Guess | Shutterstock
This month, Delta has a total of 392 flights scheduled between ATL and IAD. The A220-300 will be operated twice daily, handling a total of 95 flights – 48 to IAD and 47 to ATL. As an undoubtedly popular route, Delta will notably utilize five other aircraft types to support the capacity. Joining the A220-300 will be the A319, A320, A321, Boeing 717, and 737-800.
The A319, which only carries two more passengers than the A220-300, will be deployed on a whopping 149 flights on the route. The larger A320 is scheduled on 65 flights, while the A321 will only be deployed once in each direction. Among Boeing metal, the 717 will handle 42 flights, and the 737-800 is scheduled to operate 39 flights.
Cross-country to California
The other two routes the A220-300 is operating are longer cross-country flights to California, and it will be the only aircraft within Delta’s fleet to be deployed once daily. Between ATL and BUR, the aircraft is scheduled on 48 flights this month – 24 in each direction. According to Delta, the airline has served the route before, but it has never been operated by an A220. The carrier also operates daily flights from BUR to its hub at Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC).
Check It Out
No More Widebodies? American Airlines Will Remove Boeing 777 & 787 Dreamliner Flights Between Miami And Los Angeles
There is no date on when the larger aircraft could return to the route.
While the ATL-BUR route is returning, the journey between ATL and SBA is all-new. There are a total of 47 flights on the A220-300 scheduled for this month: 24 westbound and 23 eastbound. The new service complements Delta’s existing service between SBA and SLC.
Aircraft accommodations
Delta’s A220-300s accommodate 130 passengers in a two-class configuration. In first class, there are 12 recliner seats in a 2-2 layout. The seats have a width of 20.5 inches and a pitch of 37 inches. The main cabin comprises 118 seats in a 2-3 layout. 30 Delta Comfort+ seats have 18.6 inches of width and 34 inches of pitch, while the remaining 88 standard seats also feature a width of 18.6 inches, but have a pitch ranging from 31 to 33 inches depending on where the passenger is seated.
Photo: Delta Air Lines
The aircraft also features WiFi, USB in-seat power, in-seat power outlets, and seatback screens with live TV for inflight entertainment. Delta took delivery of its first A220 in October 2018. The carrier is one of three US airlines to operate A220 family aircraft, but is the only airline to jointly operate A220-100 in its fleet. Breeze Airways and JetBlue Airways only operate the A220-300.
Read Next
Delta Air Lines And Starbucks Are Changing How You Earn SkyMiles On Coffee Purchases Next Week
The more Starbucks credits you reload, the more SkyMiles you earn.