Hi, dear flight-report members and readers!
In this FR I'd like to present a detailed review of an airBaltic A220-300 on a mid-haul flight from Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS) to Riga (RIX), taken on 2 December 2019.
Intro
In November-December 2019 I had 4 airBaltic (BT) flights on A220-300s under the ticket SVO-RIX-AMS-RIX-SVO, which I used for positioning to my AeroMexico ticket AMS-MEX-LIM-MEX-AMS to Peru (its last leg has already been reviewed).
While all the 4 A223 on these flights were similar inside, the AMS-RIX flight was the most interesting, as the A223 operating this flight was in one of BT's special liveries and also had beautiful cabin lighting modes. In this FR I also use some photos from 3 other BT flights to complement the review with details.
Symbolically, BT became world's first A220 (former Bombardier CS series before acquisition by Airbus) operator back in late 2016, and for a long time was the world's largest A223 operator before JetBlue took over that title.
BT positions itself as a "connecting lowcoster", offering connecting flights in its RIX hub (I chose the longest possible connections in RIX both ways to visit this beautiful city twice), but providing zero inflight service.
Currently BT's fleets capacity exceeds the airline's needs, thus BT leases some its A223s to Lufthansa Group.
Airbus A220-300 Operators
A220 is the world's most spacious narrowbody for economy passengers due to its cabin width, providing comfortable 2-3 layout with 18+" wide seats (on par with A380 and 3-3-3 B777 seats!) and decent cabin height giving airy feeling, significantly taller than Embraer's one (despite E1- and E2-jets having less crowded 2-2 layout with wide 18" seats, their cabin is not-so-high). Its exit doors capacity limitations prevents operators from installing 3-3 layout with narrow seats, so A220 cabin is a blessing for Y passengers.
The only (but significant) problem with A220s is their PW geared turbofan engines (the only engine option) with their compromised reliabitily, which led to a significant number of grounded jets worldwide.
It would be useful to list the current operators A220-300 - the largest and the most popular A220 modifications, with their layouts and numbers of currently grounded (presumably due to engines problems) jets. Worth noting that quite a number of A223 operators have business class with 2-2 recliner seats.
1) Air Austral: 3 units (C12_Y120). 2 units are parked.
2) airBaltic: 20 units (Y145) plus 30 units (Y149). 5 units are parked.
3) Air Canada: 39 units (C12_Y125). 3 units are parked.
4) Air France: 47 units (CY148). 11 units are parked.
5) Air Niugini: 1 unit.
6) Air Tanzania: 4 units (C12_Y120).
7) Animawings: 3 units (C12_Y125).
8) Breeze Airways: 48 units (C12_Y125). 7 units are parked.
9) Bulgaria Air: 5 units (C8_Y135). 1 unit is parked.
10) Croatia Airlines: 6 units (CY150).
11) Cyprus Airways: 2 units (C12_Y115) plus 2 units (CY140). 2 units are parked.
12) Delta Air Lines: 35 units (C12_Y118).
13) Ibom Air: 2 units (C12_Y120).
14) Iraqi Airways: 5 units (C12_Y120). All the units are parked.
15) ITA Airways: 4 units (CY148) plus 10 units (CY150). 7 units are parked.
16) JetBlue: 54 units (Y140). 3 units are parked.
17) Korean Air: 10 units (Y140). 2 units are grounded.
18) QantasLink: 8 units (C10_Y127). 1 unit is parked.
19) Smartwings: 4 units (Y149).
20) Swiss: 21 units (CY145). 4 units are parked.
21) TAAG: 3 units (C12_Y125).
Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS)
Before pandemic I transited a lot through Schiphol and was appreciating its phenomenal rail connection with almost every corner of the Netherlands. I often had long daylight-time layovers and used this opportunity to visit different NL towns. This time, having flown into AMS on AeroMexico from MEX, I visited Delft before returning to the airport to take my BT flight to RIX.
Another thing I appreciated in AMS is the landside terrace with F100 aircraft, formerly operated by KL (sadly, I missed the opportunity to fly a F100 when they were present in the world outside Australia, which is a difficult place for me visa-wise) and some aircraft parts (like cockpit, engine and gear) located in the airside area.
The Aircraft
My flight from Amsterdam to Riga was operated by 2018-built YL-CSK in the beautiful "Lithuanian Flag" livery. BT also have two "Latvia", one "Estonian Flag" and one "Baltic Heritage" special liveries on some its A223. It was not possible to take a decent photo of the aircraft in AMS and I made it later in RIX.
The 1L door.
The Cabin
The cabin consists of 145 seats in the standard spacious 2-3 layout. Some of the very front rows could be used for "eurobusiness", where C and E are blocked (1 pax per duo block and 2 paxes per triple block). Here I use photos in this gallery taken on RIX-AMS flight, with daylight time of the departure.
The Economy Seat
My seat 8A was in the front part of the cabin in the duo block. The seat model is exactly the same as in Swiss A223s and A221s. It has 18" width and is comfortable for mid-haul flights. The seat has headrest, leather upholstery, tray table, hard upper seat pocket and two small lower soft seat pockets. The row pitch is good.
The seatpocket content: safety card and inflight magazine
The overhead panel has quite large screen, which can display various data, from safety video to flight maps, and personal airvents.
The Cabin Moodlighting
During the boarding this AMS-RIX flight the crew turned on variable moodlighting with the colors changing each other and giving some cosmic feeling of the cabin. Needless to say that the crew were nice on all the 4 flights.
The Flight
During the pushback safety video was displayed on the overhead screens.
Takeoff from AMS.
Cabin lighting during takeoff and climbout.
Cabin view inflight (from RIX-AMS flight).
The lavatory is modern and clean.
Information about connecting gates in RIX before landing.
"See you soon!" message after landing in RIX.
The Cabin After The Flight
Some additional views of the cabin upon disembarkment.
The Aircraft After The Flight
A view of the portside PW1521G engine from the stair.
The Bonus: Compilation From Other BT Flights
To complement this FR, I'd like to add a small compilation of photos, made on some other flights from my ticket: SVO-RIX and RIX-AMS.
The starboard engine view in Sheremetyevo before departure to Riga.
SVO-RIX flight data that are absolutely unimaginable today.
Takeoff from RIX to AMS and cruising at sunset over the North-European clouds.
Cabin lighting before landing in AMS from RIX.
Thank you for your attention and see you in the next FRs!
