AnimaWings receives Romania’s first A220-300
December 16, 2024
Romanian airline AnimaWings has taken delivery of the country’s first A220-300, expected to make its maiden commercial flight on 27 December, with the second of four units from Azorra also scheduled to arrive before the end of the year. AnimaWings has contracted a total of six aircraft in the first phase of its fleet development.
Assembled at the Airbus facility in Mirabel, Canada, the A220’s delivery to Bucharest “brings about another milestone for the A220 as the Romania-based airline will become the tenth A220 operator in Europe, showcasing the programme’s continued expansion,” commented Airbus Canada CEO Benoît Schultz.
“With its unmatched performance and efficiency, this aircraft is perfectly suited to support AnimaWings’ growth objectives and will play a vital role in the future of aviation in Romania,” added Azorra founder and CEO John Evans. To date, the lessor has delivered three A220-300s to operators worldwide from its firm orderbook with Airbus.
“We are delighted to be the first company in Romania to have in its fleet such a modern and spacious aircraft, perfectly suited to our vision as a smart cost company,” elaborated AnimaWings shareholder Marius Pandel. “We plan to be the air operator that connects all major cities of the country and these cities with the most important destinations in Europe”.
The new aircraft will initially serve international and domestic routes, with its maiden flight departing Bucharest for Dubai later this month. Following the second A220 delivery this year, the airline expects to take delivery of two A320s in the first quarter of next year – something Pandel said will place AnimaWings, “in the medium term, as the most important player with 100% Romanian capital on the domestic aviation market”.
