Swiss International Air Lines (LX) will dismantle two of its grounded Airbus A220-100s for spare parts, as the airline struggles to source components due to the worldwide supply chain shortage affecting Pratt & Whitney-powered aircraft.
Aircraft Cannibalised for Spares
According to ch-aviation, the two aircraft, registered as HB-JBC and HB-JBD are currently parked at Toulouse Francazal Airport (QYF). HB-JBC completed its last commercial flight in mid-December 2025 and was ferried to Toulouse on Jan. 16, 2026 and the latter, HB-JBD’s last revenue flight was at the end of November 2025, arriving in Toulouse on Jan. 5. Both were originally delivered in 2016 to Swiss Global Air Lines, a regional subsidiary that merged into the parent company in 2018.
Of Swiss’ nine A220-100s, only two are currently active. Of the remaining seven, two are being cannibalised for spares and five are in storage: three at Toulouse Francazal, one at Maastricht Aachen Airport (MST) and one at Zurich Airport (ZRH). The aircraft at Maastricht, HB-JBG, has been parked since 2024, while the others were grounded recently in April and May 2026.
An unnamed Swiss official stated:
“By dismantling these two aircraft, we are specifically securing components for our own use.”
Fleet grounding affecting the Network
The fleet constraints are now affecting Swiss’ network. The airline announced on May 19 that it will suspend its Geneva routes to Berlin, Hamburg and Pristina during IATA 2026 Winter Season. The suspensions add to a series of adjustments already made to the Geneva network, with services to Malaga and Stockholm Arlanda both reduced or suspended earlier in 2026.
While the A220-100 fleet is grounded, 21 A220-300s are still in service. The airline already wet-leases an additional 13 A220-300s from airBaltic. As for the A220-100s, no decision has been made yet on whether the variant will eventually return to service or be retired permanently once the engine situation is resolved.
Do you think Swiss will eventually return the A220-100 to service, or is this the beginning of the end for the variant in its fleet? Let us know in the comments below.
