airBaltic has taken delivery of its 51st Airbus A220-300 aircraft — which is the sole aircraft type that makes up the flag carrier’s fleet.
On Monday (December 1), the aircraft was delivered to an airBaltic facility in Riga, the airline’s largest hub.
It is the second A220-300 aircraft to be delivered to the Latvian flag carrier in 2025.
Since May 2020, airBaltic has operated all its flights with the Airbus A220-300, helping to reduce operational complexity and improve efficiency, the airline said.
To date, airBaltic’s A220-300 fleet has carried more than 23 million passengers, completed nearly 241,000 flights, and flown 530,000 block hours.
“The Airbus A220-300 has performed beyond the company’s expectations, delivering better overall performance, fuel efficiency and convenience for both passengers and the staff,” airBaltic said.
“This aircraft offers an excellent flying experience, with such benefits for passengers as wider seats, larger windows, more hand luggage space in the cabin, improved lavatories and much more.”
The airline also noted that the A220-300’s noise footprint is two times smaller and its CO2 emissions 25% lower than previous-generation aircraft.
airBaltic has also begun equipping its A220-300 fleet with Starlink WiFi, becoming the first European carrier to do so.
On the same day the aircraft was delivered, airBaltic’s new CEO Erno Hilden officially took up his role.
As covered by Airline Economics, Hilden is a Finnish national who brings more than 25 years' experience in aviation and finance to the company.
Until June 2025, he served as EVP and Group CFO of SAS Scandinavian Airlines, and has previously held senior roles at Saudi Arabian Airlines Group and Finnair.
He replaces airBaltic interim CEO Paulus Cālītis, who will now return to his duties as COO and member of the executive board.