Hi, dear flight-report members and readers!
In this FR I'd like to present a review of a Swiss A220-100 on a Zurich (ZRH) to Madrid (MAD) flight, taken on 20 February 2020.
Intro
This flight was the second leg in the Swiss ticket DME-ZRH-MAD-ZRH-DME (the 3rd leg MAD-ZRH on Helvetic E290 has already been reviewed), which I used for positioning to Madrid for the AFKL ticket MAD-CDG-UIO + GYE-AMS-MAD (the 3rd leg GYE-AMS on KLM B77E has already been reviewed).
I was hoping to fly LX A221 in late November 2018 on the way back from South Africa, but back then everything went wrong: not only online check-in for Edelweiss flight failed, leaving me with shitty aisle seat on the CPT-ZRH flight on A343, but also on the connecting flight from ZRH to CDG A221 was swapped to A223 at the last moment.
Eventually in the February 2020, in the beginning of my trip to Ecuador (which turned to be my last pre-pandemic trip), I got to fly the smallest A220.
Airbus A220-100 Operators
Being the smallest member of A220 family, the A221 is definitely less versatile than larger A223 and thus has quite limited popularity. Nevertheless, it provides the same spaciousness for economy passengers as its larger sibling.
It would be useful to list the current A221 operators (very few compared to the number of A223 operators), their layouts and numbers of grounded (presumably to notorious PW engines problems) aircrafts.
1) Bulgaria Air: 2 units (C8_Y110). 1 unit is parked.
2) Croatia Airlines: 1 unit (CY127).
3) Delta Air Lines: 45 units (C12_Y97). 3 units are parked. DL is by far the world's largest A221 operator.
4) ITA Airways: 12 units (CY125). 2 units are parked. Curious fact: AZ ordered A221s primary for flying to LCY, known by its challenging landing and takeoff conditions, but when the airline already received a number of A221s, LCY was certified for receinving larger A223s.
5) Swiss: 9 units (CY125). 2 units are parked.
Zurich International Airport (ZRH)
ZRH, as well as AMS, is one of the best-organized airports in EU. It also has its own railway station giving an easy access to a number of destinations in Switzerland during long layovers (I used my 6-hours layover between DME-ZRH and ZRH-MAD flights to visit Zurich city centre). ZRH has the main terminal (mostly for narrowbody flights) and its satellite (mostly for international widebody flights). Both are modern and spacious and provide very good spotting possibilities. The main building also have an open-air viewing desk. When I visited it before my ZRH-MAD flight, I saw an EK A380 and LX's first (and back then the only) A320neo.
The Aircraft
My flight from Zurich to Madrid was operated by 2017-built HB-JBG with CY125 layout. Currently this aircraft is grounded since November 2024 due to PW engines problem.
Boarding
The portside PW1524G engine view from the jetbridge.
The 1L door.
The Cabin
The cabin consists of 132 seats in the standard spacious 2-3 layout. Some of the very first rows can be used for "eurobusiness" depending on the load.
The Economy Seat
My seat is 18F in a triple seatblock after the window. I prefer duo seatblocks on the left side, but this time the sun position dictated the necessity to choose the right side. The seat manufacturer is ZIM, though, I don't remember the exact model name. The same seats are installed in airBaltic A223s. This seat is very good with comfortable (despite being slimline) shape of the seatback. The seatwidth is ample: approx. 18.3", on par with 3-3-3 B777 seats. The seat has headrest, leather upholstery, tray table, upper hard large seat pocket and two lower small soft seat pockets. The row pitch is good.
The seat pocket content: safety card, inflight magazine and duty-free magazine.
The overhead panel for triple seatblocks with personal airvents and quite large screen.
The Flight
Some pre-flight data.
Pushback begins and safety video is played.
Flaps in takeoff configuration.
Takeoff from ZRH.
Flaps off.
The flight map.
Soon inflight service begins. A warm cake with a selection of drinks, including Pays d'Oc wine and juices, are served, which is nice for the flight of this length. The crew were very nice, as always on Swiss-based airlines.
A couple of inflight cabin views.
The lavatory is modern and clean.
Overflying Pyrenees.
A221 wing over Iberian peninsula.
Descent to MAD at sunset.
Moments before the touchdown.
Speedbrakes deployed.
The Cabin After The Flight
A couple of cabin views upon disembarkment.
We arrived to the Terminal 2, from where I took free shuttle bus to the Terminal 4, where suburban train station ("cercanias") is located to get to the city centre.
Thank you for your attention and see you in the next FRs!
