Delta Air Lines said it is delaying the launch of its new Airbus A220 jets due to certification delays amid the partial federal shutdown.
Atlanta-based Delta had planned to launch the 109-seat A220 into service Jan. 31 with flights from New York’s LaGuardia Airport.
However, since the federal shutdown began, Delta had been monitoring the situation and raised the likelihood that it would have to delay the A220 launch.
On Friday, Delta said it decided to postpone the debut “due to delays in certification processes that are required by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration.”
The airline said it would operate the flights with other planes and it did not expect any flight cancellations nor impact on customers as a result.
Earlier this month, Delta also said the shutdown is taking a $25 million toll on its business for January, as fewer government contractors and employees travel.
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