Airbus Test Flight Over Fairhope

A new Airbus A220 passes over Battles Wharf the afternoon of JAN 14th 2026 while lining up to land in Mobile following a test flight. The aircraft is the original creation of Bombardier, which branded it as the CS100. Faced with financial challenges, the only way Bombardier had available to save the aircraft was to sell a majority share of its company to Airbus, which it did in 2018. Airbus then rebranded the aircraft as the A220. In 2020, Bombardier exited the program, leaving Airbus with full control.

Despite being considered a promising aircraft due in part to its fuel efficiency, the A220 has been plagued by problems involving the aircraft’s engines, which are made by Pratt & Whitney. Problems with corrosion and premature wear caused by contaminated powdered metal have been serious enough to force some airlines, including Delta Air Lines and Swiss, to ground some or all of their A220s. Despite being young aircraft, EgyptAir got rid of its entire A220 fleet in 2024, selling off twelve of the aircraft.

Photo shot from Fairhope, roughly 2.75 miles away…