6 hours Ago By Alexander Mitchell
In a move that is sure to concern US airlines, passengers, and regulators, European manufacturing conglomerate Airbus has announced that it is investigating an issue related to the ongoing corrosion of its Airbus A220 passenger jets. This issue has been found on what the manufacturer has referred to as a "limited population" of Airbus A220 jets, including some that are operated by US-based carriers. Both the manufacturer and multiple different airlines have stated that they do not believe the issue represents an immediate safety concern.
Get all the latest aviation news from Simple Flying! According to CBS News , those familiar with the issue said that corrosion has been found on some passenger seat bindings and some wing components. Specifically, corrosion has been found on what is referred to as the wing-to-body fairing, which is designed for the minimization of drag in the location where the wing and body of the aircraft meet. This piece essentially serves as a cover over that area and does not serve a structural function.
A deeper look at the issue and airline industry reactions Despite the concern that this issue has arisen, Airbus has been quick to calm any major worries. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has been made aware of the issue, and it is taking steps to make sure that airlines address the matter. In a statement, the airline had the following words to add: "Regular maintenance checks are scheduled to ensure it is captured early and the right corrective actions are put in place in a timely manner to mitigate the situation.
The A220 fleet's airworthiness remains intact." Delta Air Lines is the world's largest operator of the Airbus A220 , and it has observed the issue on multiple models, requiring passenger seat fittings to be treated with additional lubricating chemicals. The Atlanta-based airline said that this issue has not had any impact on the scheduling of Airbus A220 flights and no cancellations have resulted from the issue.
The carrier has been quick to note that it has a sophisticated aircraft maintenance team and that it is prepared to address the issue. The carrier noted that every one of its Airbus A220 aircraft will be maintained to the standards governed by industry safety regulators. Furthermore, Delta stated that the company's technical experts think that these kinds of issues are not inherently surprising for new, clean-sheet aircraft.
The carrier also noted that it was aware that corrosion on the wing-to-body fairing had been found on aircraft operated by other A220 carriers, but that Delta Air Lines mechanics have yet to find these issues on their fleet. JetBlue and Breeze Airways both also fly dozens of A220 jets, alongside multiple global carriers, including Air Canada, Air Baltic, and Air France . Qantas had planned to launch Darwin to Singapore services in December 2024.
Breeze Airways also noted that it is aware of the corrosion issue and that the carrier is taking active steps to help mitigate these concerns. Breeze spokespeople noted that safety is, unsurprisingly, their top priority. JetBlue officials had similar opinions on the matter, and they noted that the issue has no impact on the reliability of its Airbus A220 fleet .
So what's the bottom line with this A220 corrosion issue? Unsurprisingly, there has been significant concern as a result of this corrosion issue. However, it is not all that uncommon for newly-built aircraft to face corrosion-related issues, especially on non-structural components that may be designed with new materials. Despite the concerning nature of this development, it is important to note that these issues have no structural impact on the aircraft itself, and all parties have been quick to note that this corrosion issue will not affect operational safety or reliability .
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