AnimaWings grounds half its A220-300 fleet amid technical and commercial woes

AnimaWings announced a phased grounding of several Airbus A220-300 planes beginning on 29 September 2026, after experiencing repeated technical failures on aircraft that are less than three months old. The carrier refutes claims that the grounding stems from unpaid leasing, stating the decision was internal and that contract details are confidential. Tax data reveal the airline owes more than 11.5 million lei to the state.

At Cluj Airport, some routes have been suspended since October because of low passenger loads. The company says it will shift A220-300 services to other aircraft where possible and is processing rebooking or full refunds for disrupted travelers. It emphasizes that safety and operational stability remain top priorities despite the temporary reduction in fleet availability.