Story ID: GPa220vanuatu02262019
Air Vanuatu Signs For Four A220s
By: Gregory Polek
Caption: Airbus wins its first orders of the year for the former C Series jet. 
Word Count: 124
Airbus has drawn a firm order from Air Vanuatu covering two A220-100s and two A220-300s, the European manufacturer announced Tuesday. The national flag carrier of the Pacific island nation of Vanuatu said it plans to deploy the airplanes on current domestic and international routes, including its newly announced nonstop service between Vanuatu and Melbourne. It expects the first to arrive at its base in Vanuatu in June 2020.

With the order, Air Vanuatu becomes the launch customer for the A220 in the South Pacific, where it flies to 26 domestic airports and internationally to Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, and New Caledonia. It launched services in 1987 and now flies a Boeing 737-800, an ATR 72-600, and three Twin Otters.