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BermudAir, the strange airline that can't really figure out what it wants to be, apparently intends to acquire Airbus A220s, and also to expand massively. I can't help but wonder how likely it is that this all plays out as expected.
BermudAir will acquire up to 20 Airbus A220-300s by 2030
BermudAir has disclosed that it will acquire 10 Airbus A220-300 aircraft, following an order placed by affiliated company Odyssey in March 2026. The airline even states that it plans to add up to 20 A220s by 2030. For context, the airline currently has a fleet of four used Embraer aircraft, including two E175s and two E190s. So that's a lot more planes with a lot more capacity.
BermudAir claims that the A220 will feature a three-class configuration with 135 seats (presumably business class, extra legroom economy, and economy).
So, where will these planes fly? According to the airline, A220s will support the company's continued growth across Bermuda, the Caribbean, Central and North America, and the wider Atlantic region. This includes opening up new nonstop, non-competitive routes, adding capacity on existing services, and serving destinations where runway, terminal, and other infrastructure constraints, can limit the use of larger aircraft.
The backstory regarding the "Odyssey" brand is interesting. The founder of BermudAir initially wanted to start an airline known as Odyssey Airlines, which was supposed to fly in an all-business class configuration between London City (LCY) and North America. That never did end up getting off the ground, though they did intend to fly A220s (well, Bombardier CSeries aircraft, back before that product lineup was rebranded).
BermudAir CEO Adam Scott had the following to say about this order:
"The A220 is the ideal aircraft to support the next phase of BermudAir's growth. Its exceptional range, operating economics and performance at constrained airports will allow us to connect more communities across Bermuda, the Caribbean, Central and North America with direct, reliable and convenient air service."
"Just as importantly, the A220 offers an outstanding passenger experience. After almost three years of operations, BermudAir has quickly established itself as the premier airline serving Bermuda and the Caribbean, to and from North America, supported by a differentiated onboard product and 70+ Net Promoter Score. The A220's spacious, quiet and comfortable cabin is perfectly aligned with the experience our guests have come to expect from us."
I don't know what to make of this BermudAir operation
Look, I love to see startup airlines succeed, but the problem is that all too often, their business models don't make sense. I mean, let's look at how BermudAir has evolved:
- First BermudAir was going to be an all-business class airline, and then it backtracked at the last minute
- BermudAir was going to be all about Bermuda flying (I mean, with that name, you'd hope so, right?), and then it largely slashed that flying, and now it's adding random Caribbean and Central America routes, like Baltimore (BWI) to Anguilla (AUA), Raleigh (RDU) to Belize City (BZE), and St. Petersburg (PIE) to Turks & Caicos (PLS)
- BermudAir's dispute with Bermuda Airport some time back over millions in unpaid airport fees certainly doesn't build much confidence in the carrier's sustainability
The vibes are very much that of "desperate airline throwing stuff at wall to see what sticks," rather than "successful airline with good business plan expanding rationally." To be clear, I can't say that with certainty, since the company isn't publicly traded. But I think most reasonable people would have a hard time disagreeing.
The A220 has amazing operating costs and a great passenger experience. But the plane is also expensive, at least compared to the used Embraer jets that the company currently flies. Can the airline really find enough markets to make this work?
Bottom line
BermudAir has placed an order for the Airbus A220, including a firm order for up to 10, and options for an additional 10. The airline plans to start taking delivery of the planes in late 2027, and may be flying all 20 of them by 2030.
This strikes me as a wild amount of growth for an airline that can't even decide which markets to serve. I'm curious to see how this all plays out. Going from four used planes that cost very little to acquire, to up to 20 brand new planes (admittedly with great operting costs), is quite the leap…
What do you make of BermudAir's A220 order?
