Lufthansa City Airlines Expects First A220 in November 2026

FRANKFURT — Lufthansa City Airlines (VL) expects to take delivery of its first Airbus A220-300 in November 2026, adding a new aircraft type to the Lufthansa Group subsidiary's expanding European feeder fleet.

The planned November handover places the first delivery around the middle of the fourth quarter. Lufthansa City Airlines had previously given a broader end-of-2026 target, while reporting on its pilot-training program subsequently specified November.

Delivery will not mean an immediate start to passenger flights. The airline plans to place the A220 into commercial service in early 2027 after completing aircraft induction, crew preparation, and operational readiness work. It has not yet announced the inaugural route or flight date.

First of 40 Firmly Ordered A220-300s

Lufthansa Group placed a firm order for 40 A220-300s in December 2023, along with options for 20 more aircraft. Its 2025 annual report lists the firm deliveries between 2026 and 2031.

The first aircraft is expected to be the only A220 in Lufthansa City Airlines' fleet at the end of 2026. The group's year-end fleet plan calls for the subsidiary to have 20 A320neos, four A319s, and one A220 by then.

That makes November's planned handover the start of the type's phase-in, rather than the beginning of a large delivery wave before year-end. Lufthansa has not disclosed how many additional A220s it expects to receive in 2027.

Lufthansa specified a 148-seat configuration when it announced the order. The group said the aircraft would operate short-haul services from Frankfurt Airport (FRA) and Munich Airport (MUC), feeding passengers into its medium- and long-haul network. Lufthansa has not reconfirmed the first aircraft's final certified layout.

A220 Adds a Smaller-Gauge Feeder Aircraft

Lufthansa City Airlines began scheduled operations in June 2024 and has built its initial fleet around the Airbus A319 and A320neo. Airways flew on the carrier's inaugural Munich–Birmingham service, while the airline has since expanded from Munich and opened Frankfurt operations in February 2026.

The A220-300 gives the carrier a smaller-capacity aircraft than the A320neo while retaining a mainline-style narrowbody cabin. That difference matters in hub feeding: Lufthansa can match capacity more closely to thinner European markets without removing a destination from the Frankfurt or Munich connecting banks.

The type is already established elsewhere in the group. SWISS operates A220-100s and A220-300s, while ITA Airways also flies the A220 family. Lufthansa Group said new aircraft are allocated among its airlines shortly before delivery, but it identified Lufthansa City Airlines as the intended operator when it placed the 40-aircraft order.

Crews Train With airBaltic

Preparation began well before the planned delivery. Lufthansa City Airlines launched a type-entry project covering flight crews, cabin crews, software, and technical integration. The first cabin conversion courses are scheduled to start in September 2026.

For cockpit training, the airline is drawing on airBaltic's experience as an all-A220 operator. The first six Lufthansa City Airlines pilots began an EASA-compliant training program with airBaltic in May. The work includes theoretical and simulator instruction in Riga, operator conversion, supervised flying, and line experience on airBaltic's European network.

The separation between November delivery and early-2027 service gives the airline time to finish that preparation with its own aircraft. Lufthansa City Airlines has not published an acceptance date or the timetable leading to its first passenger flight.