BermudAir Orders 10 Airbus A220-300s at Farnborough 2026

BermudAir has placed a firm order for 10 Airbus A220-300 aircraft, marking the carrier’s transition from regional jets to mainline single-aisle operations.

Announced on July 22, 2026, at the Farnborough International Airshow, the agreement represents the Bermuda-based airline’s first direct purchase from the European manufacturer. The order was initially logged in March 2026 under an undisclosed customer through BermudAir’s affiliated company, Odyssey.

Fleet transition and capacity growth

BermudAir currently operates a fleet of Embraer 175 and Embraer 190 aircraft. The introduction of the Airbus A220-300 will provide a significant capacity increase for the three-year-old airline. According to Airways Magazine, the A220-300 will be configured with 135 seats in a three-class layout, adding 39 seats compared to the airline’s current 96-seat Embraer 190s.

Deliveries are scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of 2027, as reported by Aviation Week. Reuters notes that BermudAir plans to operate up to 20 Airbus A220 aircraft by 2030, eventually replacing its Embraer fleet entirely.

BermudAir Founder and Chief Executive Officer Adam Scott detailed the economic rationale for the upgauge in an interview with Airways Magazine, noting that the airline was previously leaving passengers and revenue behind on maturing routes.

“We’ve evolved from the E175 to the E190, from 76 seats to 96 seats. The A220 essentially has the same operating cost as the 190, but you get this extra capacity,” Scott said.

Network expansion across the Americas

The 3,600-nautical-mile range of the A220-300 will enable BermudAir to expand its footprint beyond its current North American gateways. The airline is actively growing its network to include destinations in the Caribbean and Central America, such as Belize, Turks and Caicos, Guatemala City, and Anguilla. Reuters reports the carrier plans to more than double its current 11 routes by the end of 2026.

In a press release issued by Airbus, Scott stated that the aircraft’s range, operating economics, and performance at constrained airports will allow the carrier to connect more communities with direct service. The new fleet will also feature XL overhead bins, which Airways Magazine reports will provide a 20 percent increase in carry-on volume.

Airbus Executive Vice President of Sales for Commercial Aircraft Benoît de Saint-Exupéry added that the agreement introduces the A220 to a distinct operational environment in the Atlantic and Caribbean, validating the aircraft’s role in targeted regional development.

AirPro News analysis

BermudAir’s shift to the Airbus A220-300 highlights a broader industry trend of regional carriers upgauging to small narrowbody aircraft to maximize slot utility and route profitability. By selecting the A220, BermudAir secures a platform that offers mainline passenger experience metrics while maintaining trip costs comparable to large regional jets. We view this order as a critical step in BermudAir’s strategy to establish a dominant hub-and-spoke model in the Atlantic, leveraging Bermuda’s geographic position to capture premium leisure traffic between North America and the Caribbean.

Sources: Airbus