Airbus pitches A220 to PHL carriers

To connect small islands to foreign cities

- ELIJAH FELICE ROSALES

Aerospace giant Airbus is proposing to finally bring its only aircraft currently unavailable in the Philippines, the A220, that carriers can use to connect small islands to key cities abroad.

Airbus president for Asia-Pacific Anand Stanley has urged Philippine carriers to consider the smaller single-aisle A220 as an alternative to their turboprop fleet, which would be barred soon at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

The A220 is the little brother of the A320, specifically made by Airbus to land in smaller airports that are incapable of handling larger single-aisles.

In spite of its smaller size, Stanley said the A220 brings competitive advantages missing in turboprops. The A220 can seat anywhere between 100 and 160 guests, whereas turboprops are limited to below 80.