Swiss to retire A220-100 fleet, citing engine supply issues

Swiss International Air Lines has announced plans to retire its Airbus A220-100 aircraft, according to the airline. The Zurich-based carrier was the launch customer for the A220 program in 2016, introducing both the A220-100 and the larger A220-300 into its fleet.

The airline said the retirement applies only to the A220-100 variant. It will continue operating 21 A220-300 aircraft, which offer more seating capacity and are considered more economical to run.

According to the airline, the move is linked to ongoing problems with the Pratt & Whitney engines that power the A220 family. By withdrawing the A220-100s, Swiss intends to redirect their engines toward keeping the A220-300 fleet operational.

Notably, the oldest A220-100 in the fleet is only about a decade old, a relatively young age for a commercial aircraft to be retired. The decision reflects the scale of the engine supply and reliability issues affecting A220 operators more broadly, though the airline did not detail a specific retirement timeline in the available information.

The A220-100 is the smaller of the two A220 variants, typically configured with fewer seats than the A220-300. Airlines around the world have faced disruptions from Pratt & Whitney's geared turbofan engines, which have required inspections and part replacements industry-wide.

Swiss has not indicated whether the retired aircraft will be sold, stored, or scrapped, nor has it announced replacement plans for the routes currently served by the A220-100.