MIDDLE EAST AIRLINE WILL CLOSE IN 2020
Gulf Air: Airbus A330
Even before the pandemic hit the industry, Gulf Air had shut down its last Airbus A330 in January after nearly two decades of operation.
As a result of the withdrawal, the Bahrain airline's long-haul network became exclusively operated by the Boeing 787, with short-haul services flown on the Airbus A320neo family of aircraft.
NORTH AMERICAN AIRLINE TYPE STOPPED IN 2020
American Airlines: Airbus A330, Boeing 757, 767, Embraer 190
American Airlines' in-service fleet includes only four types of aircraft thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic.
A year earlier, the Fort Worth-based US carrier had doubled service, according to Cirium, Fleet Data and US Financial Presentation.
In the last 12 months, the United States "accelerated the retirement" of four types of aircraft. The planes were withdrawn from service 15 A330-200s, nine A330-300s, 34 Boeing 757s, 17767-300ERs and 20 Embraer 190s, sources indicate. American has also grounded all 50 seats of the CRJ200.
At the end of the year, the US fleet in service numbered 714 aircraft, up from 916 the previous year, according to Cirium.
Delta Air Lines: Boeing 777, MD-88, MD-90
Delta Air Lines made headlines in May when it confirmed plans to close its entire 777 fleet by the end of the year, leaving the Atlanta airline with a very long-haul pilot: the A350.
The carrier fleet had covered 18777s, including eight 777-200ERs and 10777-200LRSs, by the end of last year.
Delta cut those figures to five of each variant by the end of September, according to Delta's third-quarter financial report.
777 Delta is neither very old nor very young, with an age between 10 and 20 years. But unlike a guy like the 767, the 777 was considered a modern and sophisticated jet, which made Delta's decision even more surprising.
However, Delta points out, the A350 that replaces the 777 consumes 21% less fuel.
Also in early 2020, Delta said it would advance plans for the recall of its McDonnell Douglas MD-88 and MD-90. The airline owned 71 of these aircraft at the end of 2019. Currently none, Cirium data shows.
Air Transat: Airbus A310
Canadian airline Air Transat suspended all its A310s in response to the pandemic and accelerated the retirement of its 737s.
A year ago, Montreal's airline fleet included six Airbus wide-body aircraft, each about 30 years old, and five 737s.
At the end of October, Transat did not have A310s and only had two 737s. The recall, although it will come earlier than planned, continues Air Transat's strategy to switch to a fully Airbus fleet.
Air Canada: Airbus A319, Boeing 767, Embraer 190
In July, Air Canada said it had selected 79 aircraft for accelerated retirement by 2020, including the 767, A319 and E190 fleets.
The Montreal-based carrier ended last year with 158 aircraft in service, including six 767s, 13 A319s and 14 E190s.
All 767s and E190s are now out of Air Canada's active fleet, although the airline has yet to complete its task of grounding its A319s. Nine of them remained operational for Air Canada in mid-December, according to Cirium.
The airline has also resolved another type of fleet, leaving 103 jets in service by the end of the year, a reduction of about a third in a year.
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