Summary
- airBaltic received its forty sixth Airbus A220-300 aircraft, demonstrating its commitment to expanding its A220 fleet.
- The airline goals to operate a fleet of 100 A220-300s by 2030, making it Europe’s largest A220 customer.
- airBaltic plans to expand its route network, adding 11 European destinations in 2024 and growing connectivity within the Baltic region.
Latvia’s national carrier, airBaltic, has received its forty sixth Airbus A220-300 aircraft, reaffirming its commitment to maintaining a single-type fleet and expanding its A220 aircraft fleet to support its network.
The latest addition to the airline’s fleet is registered as YL-ABT. airBaltic’s freshly painted A220-300 traveled from Montreal (YMX) to Latvia’s capital, Riga (RIX), on December 20, 2023, and after completing its seven-hour journey, it reached its destination just in time for Christmas.
100 A220s by 2030
This yr, the leading airline across the Baltic States has demonstrated ambition, especially in its pursuit of fleet expansion. Throughout the Dubai Airshow 2023, airBaltic finalized an order for 30 Airbus A220-300 aircraft, with the choice to amass an extra 20.
Photo: Luce Borrel | Airbus
With this order, airBaltic intends to operate a fleet of 100 A220-300s by 2030, solidifying its position as the most important A220 customer in Europe and maintaining its status because the world’s largest A220-300 operator. The primary of its type, then called the Bombardier CSeries CS300, arrived in airBaltic’s fleet seven years ago.
Wow: airBaltic Has Now Been Operating the Airbus A220-300 For 7 Years
Since its introduction in 2016, airBaltic has carried almost 450,000 passengers on its Airbus A220s.
While plans for the subsequent seven years are truly ambitious, the airline is eagerly awaiting the delivery of its fiftieth A220, which is predicted in 2024. To have a good time this milestone, airBaltic has initiated an exclusive design contest, inviting artists, designers, and other creatives to craft a brand new livery for its fiftieth airframe.
Along with having their design featured on the A220, the competition winner will receive a €3,000 airBaltic gift certificate.
Busy schedule for 2024
airBaltic has had a busy yr and is gearing up for much more activity. Alongside expanding its fleet, the Latvian airline is rapidly growing its route network. Through 2024, airBaltic will expand its network, boosting regional connectivity through the Baltic region and adding a spread of south-bound sunny destinations.
Photo: Limare | Shutterstock
The brand new summer schedule includes 11 European routes, namely Alicante (Spain), Tirana (Albania), Sofia (Bulgaria), Ljubljana (Slovenia), Skopje (North Macedonia), Chisinau (Moldova), Pristina (Kosovo), Billund (Denmark), Malta, Krakow (Poland), and Palanga (Lithuania). Commenting on the chance to grow the network in 2024, the carrier’s CEO, Martin Gauss, said:
“When preparing for the subsequent season, we all the time rigorously evaluate the market situation and the passenger demand. This time, now we have identified a chance to widen our network in Central and Southeastern Europe with connections to Baltic and Nordic countries.”
At the tip of this yr, the airline also opened a brand new seasonal A220 base in Gran Canaria that may accommodate the airline’s two A220s. These aircraft offer lower operating costs and are easier to fill through the winter season.
airBaltic Opens An Airbus A220 Base In Gran Canaria
airBaltic’s seasonal base in Gran Canaria, Spain, is now fully operational.
Have you ever ever flown on certainly one of airBaltic’s Airbus A220s? In that case, what was your experience? Tell us within the comments section below.