Latvian flag carrier AirBaltic placed a firm order for 30 Airbus A220-300s at the Dubai Airshow, bringing its total order count for the airplane to 80. The deal includes purchase rights for an additional 20 aircraft.
Founded in 1995, the airline, based in four northern European cities, operates a fleet of 44 aircraft and expects to take its 50th next year, according to CEO Martin Gauss. “The first aircraft from the new order is coming in the fourth quarter of 2026,” he said.
The airline logged 37,300 flights in 2022, carrying 3.3 million passengers.
Operating from Riga, Latvia; Tallinn, Estonia; Vilnius, Lithuania; and Tampere, Finland, the airline is studying a fifth hub and today temporarily bases two aircraft in Gran Canaria.
“We are expanding in the Nordics,” he said. "We have laid out a plan to take us up to 100 aircraft. We have identified other bases but they have not yet been announced."
In 2016, AirBaltic became the global launch operator of the A220 and since 2020 has operated all flights using a single-type fleet. Today, it ranks as the world's largest operator of the aircraft.
“The market outlook for the A220 is quite strong,” said Christian Scherer, chief commercial officer and head of international at Airbus. Several Middle East airlines are interested, he said, but wouldn't identify any particular company.
“There is demand for the A220 in every region of the world, including in this region,” he told AIN. “It's a very versatile airplane. This region, in particular, has longer and thinner sectors that the airplane lends itself to particularly well.”
The delivery of a business jet version—the TwoTwenty—from Comlux in Indianapolis to Five Hotels and Resorts in Dubai earlier this year created a flurry of regional interest. “I went over to see the corporate jet [on static display],” Scherer said. “I encourage you to go and see it. It's really impressive.”
Gauss said the airline had a difficult summer due to engine problems. This month, it will have all aircraft at its disposal, although some heavy maintenance checks need completion first.
“We expect, because of the maintenance intervals, that we will also have a few missing next year,” he said. “But today, we don't know the exact number.”