airBaltic cuts up to 700 jobs and shrinks A220-300 fleet to 36 aircraft

Latvian carrier airBaltic announced plans on October 5 to cut between 500 and 700 jobs across its operational bases in Riga, Vilnius, and Tallinn. This restructuring represents 17% to 23% of its 3,000 employees.

Flight crew and cabin personnel are directly involved in discussions with labour unions. The carrier considers working time arrangements for pilots rather than direct dismissals, alongside a revised organizational structure. CEO Erno Hildén indicated that no individual decisions have been finalised yet, while the organizational framework for non-flight departments should be determined in mid-October.

This downsizing stems from a revised operational roadmap prioritising financial stability. Currently operating 54 Airbus A220-300 aircraft, airBaltic aims to downsize its fleet to 36 units by the end of 2026, before expanding to around 40 aircraft by 2031. The airline also intends to expand ACMI lease operations to secure stable revenues outside its scheduled network, while keeping its current flight programme intact.

The measures follow the company's voluntary filing for Chapter 11 protection on September 14 in the US Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York to reorganize its debt while continuing regular operations.