AirBaltic to End ACMI Leasing Agreement this Winter

DALLAS — airBaltic (BT) has announced that it will conclude its ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, and Insurance) leasing arrangements for the upcoming winter season, beginning October 27, 2024.

The Latvian-based airline had introduced additional leased aircraft over the summer to handle increased passenger demand and address supply chain issues impacting aircraft engine maintenance.

During this period, BT collaborated with Carpatair, Avion Express, and Fly2Sky, utilizing Airbus A319-100 and A320-200 aircraft. As the winter season approaches, BT will exclusively operate its own Airbus A220-300 fleet, providing a more consistent service experience.

The airline is also preparing to receive its 49th Airbus A220-300 and aims to grow its fleet to 100 aircraft by 2030. CEO and President Martin Gauss emphasized that despite operational challenges, the airline's top priority remains delivering an excellent customer experience.

The airline’s CEO, Martin Gauss, said, “Our first priority is always to deliver the best customer experience through focusing solely on our Airbus A220 300 fleet while we have sufficient aircraft availability, and we're committed to expanding and strengthening our fleet to support the growing demand for air travel from our passengers.” 

I want to thank our passengers for their patience and understanding, as these temporary operations were part of our efforts to ensure reliable connectivity,” added the CEO.

Uninterrupted passenger services are BT's top priority. The company has stated it is prepared to deploy additional aircraft if operational demands arise for the winter season.