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Texas Air Lines Airbus A220-100 "2013-"


Texas Air Lines Airbus A220-100 "2013-"

As the 2010s began, Texas Air Lines fleet of 737-500s, still quite numerous, were beginning to show signs of extreme age, wear and tear. With an initial goal of 2015 replacement, TAL would move forward with the small mainline fleet renewal. In 2010, the airline would order a small fleet of 737-600s to replace the oldest of the 500s, but was not fully sold on the 600 as a replacement. With the 737-700 already in service, and somewhat capable of fulfilling the requirements for operation, the desired order was reduced from 90 to 70. With no direct size and capability replacement from Boeing, and the 737 MAX 7 far away on the horizon, the airline began looking elsewhere.

The CSeries had its first flight in 2013, and Bombardier was eager to gain a foothold in the US market. Presentations were given to TAL executives, employees, and shareholders in Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston, the decision was made in April 2016, and Bombardier recorded a firm order from Texas Air Lines for 75 CS100s. This would be the first time Texas Air Lines would break with Boeing since the 1970 decision to order the McDonnell-Douglas DC-10. By April 2017, Boeing had filed a petition, accusing Bombardier of dumping them $19.6m each, below their $33.2m production cost. A US International Trade Commission inquiry and a separate investigation from the US Department of Commerce were both conducted, and after extensive deliberation, the US industry was not determined to be threatened, but the damage was done.

Interest in the airplane plummeted, and Bombardier was forced to relinquish a controlling stake of the program to Airbus, following diminishing returns and a general lack of interest in civil aviation moving forward. With soured relations from Texas Air Lines and perceived evidence that Boeing forced the CSeries into Airbus hands, the airline froze all talks with the company and has made no attempt at further expanding it's existing orders for the 737 MAX (for the -8, 9 and -10), and outright canceling the order for the 737 MAX 7.

After the deal with Airbus was finalized and the Airbus A220 name adopted, the order was reinstated and the first aircraft was delivered in October of 2018, 3 years after the retirement of the 737-500.

As of 2022, 39 A220-100s have entered service, with the remaining 36 aircraft are expected to be delivered by Q4 2024.

N340TX is named for Galveston, Texas, the second aircraft to bear this name.



    very nice

    Excellent!

    ^_^