In the dynamic world of aviation, airBaltic (BT) has carved a niche for itself with innovative strategic moves and a commitment to excellence. Headquartered in Riga, Latvia, the airline has become key to connecting the Baltic region to the rest of the world.
airBaltic is more than just a national airline; it acts as a brand ambassador for Baltic culture, representing nations transitioning from their Soviet past. The airline operates an extensive network of over 130 routes from hubs in Riga, Tallinn, Vilnius, Tampere, and, seasonally, from Gran Canaria in Spain. These routes connect to a wide array of destinations in Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, and the Caucasus.
Still rapidly expanding its route map, airBaltic aims to emerge as one of the leading carriers in Europe, relying on the Airbus A220-300, which has been a factor in the company’s success.
THE AIRBUS A220-300: BIGGER ISN'T BETTER; IT'S JUST RIGHT
airBaltic's fleet of Airbus A220-300s, known for their efficiency, speaks to the airline's forward-thinking strategy. By the end of 2024, the airline expects to receive its 50th of the type. At the 2023 Dubai Airshow, BT ordered 30 A220-300s and further confirmed an incremental order for an additional 10 in August 2024. The latest reorder will take the airline’s total firm order to 90 A220s. AirBaltic plans to operate a fleet of 100 of these aircraft by 2030, solidifying its position as one of the largest A220 operators in the world.
Since November 2016, when it received its first Bombardier CS300—the original maker and name of the Airbus A220-300—airBaltic has achieved impressive milestones with its fleet of 48 of these aircraft, which have made approximately 178,000 flights, carried nearly 16,276,000 passengers, and flown 392,000 block hours. Being the 2016 launch customer, airBaltic had transitioned to an exclusive A220-300 fleet by April 2020, having streamlined its operations by retiring its Fokker F50s, Bombardier Dash Q400s, Boeing 737s, and 757s. Nevertheless, even the most reliable machines can be prone to issues.
AirBaltic has encountered—and sorted—technical challenges with its Pratt & Whitney Geared Turbofan (GTF) PW1500G engines. These issues have notably hampered operational capacity, resulting in the grounding of at least 11 A220s and causing schedule disruptions throughout the summer season.
ENGINE WOES
AirBaltic’s problems with the PW1500G engines have included shortened lifespans for spare parts and supply chain snags. The airline is planning so much engine maintenance that…
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Exploring Airline History Volume I
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David H. Stringer, the History Editor for AIRWAYS Magazine, has chronicled the story of the commercial aviation industry with his airline history articles that have appeared in AIRWAYS over two decades. Here, for the first time, is a compilation of those articles.
Subjects A through C are presented in this first of three volumes. Covering topics such as the airlines of Alaska at the time of statehood and Canada's regional airlines of the 1960s, the individual histories of such carriers as Allegheny, American, Braniff, and Continental are also included in Volume One. Get your copy today!
January 2025 Issue
