DALLAS — airBaltic (BT) unveils its 50th Airbus A220-300, a milestone celebrated at the aircraft manufacturer's Mirabel plant.

The event was also an excellent opportunity to pay tribute to the enduring cooperation between BT and Airbus—BT is the type's launch operator.

The A220-300 is synonymous with BT, as the airline continues toward its goal of operating a single-type fleet of 100 220 aircraft by 2030.

A single-type fleet makes for better maintenance, efficient pilot training, and efficiency essential areas for scaling expansion across Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, and the Caucasus, now taking off on more than 130 routes from bases in Riga, Tallinn, Vilnius, Tampere, and Gran Canaria.

A Unique Livery Showcasing Baltic Heritage

The 50th A220-300 is painted with an artistic livery inspired by Latvian colors and elements from Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania.

Its essence is a beautiful drawing of a girl flying over the clouds. Her hair and traditional wreath adorn her, along with Baltic nature symbols: a ladybug, swallow, and stork, each carrying deep cultural connotations.

The design was selected after BT launched a global contest in 2024. The competition attracted 840 entries, and over 28,000 BT Club loyalty members voted.

This narrowed the selection to 21 finalists, whose designs were acquired by the airlines. The winning entry received over 30% of the votes.

This special A220-300 was painted in 18 days at Airbus' facility in Mirabel, Canada. The painting involved 21 different colors. According to the livery, one of the most complex designs ever applied to an A220 was thus created.

The paint shop team at the Airbus facility in Mirabel used a stencil overlay technique to layer the colors to create the complex artwork. Previously, it was done on an A220, thus indicating the changing methods of painting aircraft livery.

airBaltic CEO Perspectives

At the launch, BT chief executive officer Martin Gauss declared this was a much-needed milestone toward further expansion.

"Eight years ago, we were the launch operator of the A220-300 worldwide and, today, this aircraft brings us halfway toward our goal to achieve a fleet size of 100 by 2030," he said.

He said the new livery would represent the Baltic heritage and added, "Every flight will carry a piece of the Baltic spirit.”

"BT was the first to receive an A220-300 eight years ago, and we are honored to support their growing fleet," Airbus Canada CEO Benoît Schultz added regarding BT's long history with BT.

The Airline’s Airbus A220-300

The delivery of BT's 50th A220-300 ended the initial order and marks a midpoint in its plan to have 100 A220-300s by 2030. BT's one-type fleet allows it to streamline maintenance, pilot training, and operational efficiency.

The airline has taken advantage of the A220-300 fuel efficiency and its range to develop its network into Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, and the Caucasus, today operating over 130 routes from hubs in Riga, Tallinn, Vilnius, Tampere, and Gran Canaria.

The type's performance was instrumental in opening up long-haul operations as far as 3,600 nautical miles (6,700 km).

The airline's vision is on track. It is growing sustainably, with a strong operational focus, while maintaining its Baltic flavor. With further progress toward the 100th aircraft, the A220-300 will become essential for the carrier's development.

airBaltic is set to grow internationally and position itself as a European market leader in its segment, which will happen thanks to the A220-300.

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