Method of inkjet printing with air-dampening of ink pressure fluctuations

A method of inkjet printing comprising the steps of:

• delivering ink to a printhead manifold having a longitudinal ink channel, one or printhead chips mounted to a floor of the printhead manifold and in fluid communication with the longitudinal ink channel, and a plurality of sealed air cavities positioned over the longitudinal ink channel for dampening pressure fluctuations in the ink,
• printing from the printhead chips;
• and
• replenishing the air cavities with air,
• wherein the air cavities are replenished from an air supply having a valved connection to the air cavities.