AirBaltic Plans Major Fleet Expansion With 40 New Airbus A220-300 Aircraft

Reading Time: 2 minutes

airBaltic is set to expand its fleet with 40 additional Airbus A220-300 aircraft starting in 2026, reinforcing its position as a leading operator of the model.

Latvia’s national carrier, airBaltic, along with Airbus, recently finalized the purchase of 10 additional Airbus A220-300 aircraft, a decision that stems from their previous agreement at the 2023 Dubai Airshow. Initially, airBaltic had agreed to buy 30 of the A220-300 models, with the option to acquire 20 more. This latest procurement enhances airBaltic’s dedication to this model, aiming to expand its fleet to nearly 100 A220-300s by 2030. Currently, with a total commitment to 90 A220-300s, airBaltic not only continues to be the biggest European customer for this model but also the leading global operator with 48 of these aircraft already in service.

Martin Gauss, President and CEO of airBaltic: “For the first time in the company’s history, airBaltic plans to operate a fleet of close to 100 A220-300 aircraft, and these exercised options are the next step in the right direction. Over the years, this aircraft type has proven its operational capabilities and value – it has been the backbone of our operations and has played an integral role in the international success story of airBaltic. By exercising these options, we are strengthening our unwavering support and trust in the A220 Programme and are looking forward to our fleet expansion over the upcoming years.”

Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, EVP Sales of Airbus Commercial Aircraft business said: “We are honored and thankful that airBaltic is placing its fourth follow-up order. This latest agreement from Latvia’s flag carrier is a strong endorsement of the superior value and operational opportunities offered by this latest generation aircraft. The A220 is quite simply the most efficient aircraft in its size category, with a
spacious cabin driving the best Net Promoter Scores with passengers wherever it is operated and the range capability to fly non-stop to any destination on the carrier’s current network and beyond.”

Scheduled to begin in 2026, airBaltic is set to receive an additional 40 Airbus A220-300 aircraft. The Latvian carrier, which became the first airline worldwide to operate the A220-300 in late 2016, has exclusively used this model since May 2020. To date, airBaltic has transported over 16.3 million passengers on its A220-300 fleet, achieving nearly 183,000 flights and accumulating more than 401,000 block hours of flight time.

Operating from hubs in Riga, Tallinn, Vilnius, Tampere, and seasonally in Gran Canaria, airBaltic connects to a broad array of destinations across Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, and the Caucasus region through its extensive network of over 130 routes.