A concerning message from Airbus: airlines must inspect their A220 aircraft for potential safety risks.
Several airlines have been instructed to inspect their Airbus A220 fleets due to two technical issues. The overhead baggage compartments pose a safety risk during an emergency landing, and the aircraft also faces an increased risk of a fuel leak.
The A220, formerly known as the Bombardier C-Series, is currently produced by Airbus Canada Limited Partnership under the supervision of Transport Canada, the Canadian aviation authority. Transport Canada has recently issued two Airworthiness Directives (ADs) that will impact many operators.
Titanium or nickel?
The first directive, which took effect on March 10, 2025, concerns an issue with fasteners on the wing-to-fuselage connection on both the A220-100 and A220-300. During inspections, Airbus discovered that some aircraft were fitted with titanium fasteners in areas where nickel-alloy fasteners should have been used.
According to Transport Canada, failing to correct this issue could weaken the connection, leading to structural damage and fatigue. Additionally, there is a risk of a fuel leak if one of these fasteners fails and detaches.
Operators are required to inspect the fasteners within 500 flights of the directive’s implementation or by 10,000 total flights, whichever comes first. If titanium or unidentified fasteners are found, Airbus must be notified, and operators must follow further instructions from the manufacturer.
Overhead bins
The second Airworthiness Directive, which takes effect on March 17, 2025, concerns an issue with the overhead baggage compartments in the passenger cabin of the Airbus A220. Transport Canada discovered during a quality control inspection that some support rods, which secure the overhead bins, have an insufficient threaded connection with the tension bolts.
Investigations revealed that this issue could potentially affect all overhead compartments in an aircraft. These rods are crucial in an emergency landing, and if they detach, the bins could fall onto passengers, causing injuries. Operators must inspect the support rods and implement necessary adjustments where required.
Many airlines affected
Both directives apply to Airbus A220-100 and A220-300 aircraft with specific serial numbers. Affected operators include major airlines such as Delta Air Lines, Air Baltic, Swiss, Korean Air, Air Tanzania, Breeze Airways, Cyprus Airways, Egypt Air, JetBlue, Air Austral, Air France, Iraqi Airways, and ITA Airways. For the first directive, operators of the business jet variant, the ACJ220, are also impacted.