Airbus celebrated the delivery of its 12,000thaircraft ever in its 50-year history. The aircraft was an A220-100, assembled in Mirabel, Canada, and handed over to U.S.-based Delta Air Lines.
On a test flight on May 8, 2019, the 12,000th aircraft delivered by Airbus took a special route in the Quebec sky.
The aircraft is the 12th A220 delivered to date to Delta Air Lines since the carrier received its first in October 2018. The A220 started scheduled service with Delta in February 2019. Delta is the first U.S. airline to operate the A220 and is the largest A220 customer, with a firm order for 90 aircraft.
This milestone delivery of a Canadian-made Airbus aircraft to a U.S.-based airline highlights the growing presence of Airbus in North America. Since Airbus’ leadership of the A220 programme became effective on July 1, 2018, ground was broken in January this year in Mobile, Alabama, for the construction of a second A220 final assembly line, set to start deliveries to U.S. customers in 2020.
Airbus delivered its first aircraft, an A300B2 to Air France, back in 1974.
