US lender Azora is reviewing plans for the remaining former egyptair Airbus A220 after a portion of the jet has been assigned to serve as a source of spares of the type.
However, we expect market demand will result in aircraft being placed on aircraft due to their flight capabilities.
Florida-based Azora orders directly for the 22 A220-300, but in January last year they picked up an entire fleet of Egypt Air's 12 fleet type. Many of these aircraft are used by US airlines Breeze and Delta Air Lines (both large A220 customers) to support the fleet.
“Airlines are working through the disruption of aircraft for aircraft and play an important role in helping them overcome these,” says Azora president Lombauru.
Lenders will work with airline partners to “address the challenges of reliability in the new generation of engines” and “help alleviate the ongoing global substantial shortages,” he added.
While some of the Egyptian jets provide parts, he says, the lender's plans for the remaining aircraft are “under active review.”
“Depending on when the AOG situation is resolved, the market demand for new and second-hand A220s is very strong, so it's very likely that they'll be deployed as planes along with the operator,” Baur says.
Breeze uses three of its previous Egyptian Air Jets (MSNS 55058, 55060, and 55062) to support the new A220 aircraft. The US FAA lists them as owned by Delaware trusts, but carries registrations that match the Breeze Fleet.
A Breeze spokesman says none of the three are used for scheduled services.
“They are parked to support the fleet with spare engines when necessary,” he adds. All A220s are equipped with a Pratt & Whitney PW1500G engine.
Starting service in mid-2021, Breeze is one of the biggest customers of the A220, with 90 being ordered. This is the same number as Air Baltic, with only Jetblue Airways and Delta Air Lines each having 100 airlines.
Many new Breeze A220s are sourced from the 22 ordered by Azorra.
Delta Air Lines supports the A220 with Azorra's Ex-Egyptair empty body. The aircraft is being demolished to provide components and engines through the Delta Material Services division of the US carrier.
Baul says the aircraft will supply parts to Delta and other airlines.
“We are also leasing engines from this aircraft to the Delta,” he adds. “Azola is proud to be the first lender to develop this innovative solution for the A220. This demonstrates our commitment to finding creative, market-driven solutions.”
Baul says the lender's goal is to “maximise the value of assets” and to provide “creative solutions that meet the needs of the market and OEM partners.”
Azorra continues to lease the A220-300 to its customer airlines. Among them is Cyprus Airways, the fourth Twinjet type, which has just been delivered to the first new construction machine.
