airBaltic only uses Airbus A220-300s, together with other aircraft wet-leased for the summer. It has 41 A220s and anticipates its fiftieth arriving in summer 2024. Subject to a successful initial public offering (IPO) and thus raising more equity to expand, it is going to firm up its 30 options for an 80-strong fleet. Further ahead, it expects to take options on an extra 20 aircraft, increasing its fleet to 100.
airBaltic’s plan for 80 aircraft
At Routes Europe in Łódź last week, airBaltic CEO Martin Gauss broke down plans for 80 aircraft, saying,
“We could have 40 aircraft based within the Baltics [Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia], we are going to wet lease 26 aircraft, and the remainder shall be placed outside the Baltics.”
Photo: James Pearson I Easy Flying.
Recent bases and wet-leased aircraft
Gauss expects as much as 40 aircraft to be based outside the Baltics. Wet leasing shall be crucial to this, which is where an airline gets airBaltic’s aircraft, crew, maintenance, and insurance. airBaltic wet leases aircraft in and out, which Gauss said often raises eyebrows and
While it mainly wet leases aircraft to fulfill summer demand within the Baltics (and somewhat due to ongoing engine problems), this can be a short-term affair. In contrast, aircraft to others is a component of a longer-term strategy, which Gauss said is profitable and can play a significant role within the airline’s future.
Photo: airBaltic.
More bases to affix Tampere
With 40 aircraft stationed within the Baltics and 26 utilized by other carriers, it is going to haven’t any greater than 14 aircraft for other bases in Europe.
Alongside its existing base at Tampere, Gauss teasingly explained that the airline would have a look at other underserved airports within the Nordics. It can give attention to the realm
Tampere became a base in 2022
While airBaltic has served Tampere since 2008, it became a base in summer 2022.Gauss told the audience in Łódź.
He explained that Tampere, Finland’s second most populous urban area, has a catchment of a million people, and Finnair now not serves the airport with aircraft (a bus service is now provided to its Helsinki hub).
Photo: airBaltic.
Tampere meets airBaltic’s requirement for diverse routes: business centers, hubs, and leisure destinations. That is prone to be crucial for future bases too.
While the Finnish city worked well last summer, it’s doing higher now. Nonetheless, A pleasant reminder, whether it is needed, that adaption is all the time vital.
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“Our model will work in lots of places”
Speaking far more widely than concerning the Nordics, Gauss said there are This provides many opportunities, and never only for airBaltic.
Where would you prefer to see airBaltic’s next base? Tell us within the comments.