Lufthansa City Airlines has released the first images of its future Airbus A220-300 on the final assembly line in Canada, providing a first look at the aircraft that will introduce a new type to the German carrier's fleet.
The aircraft, MSN 55501, is being assembled at Airbus Canada's facility in Mirabel, near Montreal. Images published by City Airlines show the fuselage sections being joined, a significant change from the previous update released in May.
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The A220 is expected to carry the registration D-ACAA and is scheduled for delivery in November 2026. Lufthansa Group had already indicated that its subsidiary would receive its first example before the end of this year, but the latest update provides a specific delivery month.
Commercial operations are expected to begin in early 2027 after the aircraft enters the airline's fleet and completes preparations for revenue service. City Airlines says it will become the first German airline to operate the A220-300 on scheduled flights.
The aircraft will also begin a significant fleet transition for the relatively young Lufthansa subsidiary. City Airlines currently operates 20 Airbus narrowbodies, comprising five A319s and 15 A320neos.
Lufthansa City Airlines A200-300 in assembly | Lufthansa 
Lufthansa City Airlines A200-300 in assembly | Lufthansa 
Lufthansa City Airlines A200-300 in assembly | Lufthansa
The A319s are inherited aircraft and have two configurations. Four have 150 seats, while one accommodates 138. The 15 A320neos have 180 seats.
The incoming A220-300 will be smaller than the A320neo and eventually provide City Airlines with an aircraft better suited to routes where the capacity of the larger Airbus narrowbody is unnecessary.
40 A220 ordered in 2023
Lufthansa Group ordered 40 A220-300s for City Airlines in December 2023 and secured options for another 20. Deliveries were scheduled to begin in 2026 and continue over several years.
The order is also part of a longer-term replacement of the older A319s. Unlike those aircraft, which belong to the previous generation of the Airbus A320 family, the A220 uses Pratt & Whitney PW1500G geared turbofan engines and was designed specifically for the roughly 100-150-seat market.
City Airlines has not yet disclosed the final seat count for D-ACAA. The company has confirmed that its A220s will receive the Lufthansa Group's new Europe Cabin.
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The subsidiary began operations in 2024 and primarily feeds Lufthansa's hubs, taking over services previously operated by other companies within the group. Its rapid expansion with A320neos has provided capacity before the arrival of the aircraft originally selected to form a major part of its future fleet.
