airBaltic is continuing to strengthen its Airbus A220 fleet, with the airline planning to add an extra 10 aircraft to its fleet.
The incremental order for an additional 10 A220-300s marks the fourth reorder of the type and will take the airline’s total firm order to 90 A220 aircraft.
The options originate from the initial announcement made during the Dubai Airshow 2023 when airBaltic confirmed a firm purchase agreement for 30 Airbus A220-300 aircraft with purchase rights for an additional 20 aircraft of the type.
airBaltic operates a fleet of 48 A220-300s, with the airline the largest A220 customer in Europe and the largest A220-300 operator in the world.
With a firm order for 90 A220-300, airBaltic further reinforces its position as the largest A220 customer in Europe, being the launch customer for the A220-300 in 2016.
Since 2020, airBaltic has trusted the A220 fleet enough to withdraw all other types of aircraft used to operate.
In Quotes
Martin Gauss, President and CEO of airBaltic, said:
“For the first time in the company’s history, airBaltic plans to operate a fleet of close to 100 A220-300 aircraft, and these exercised options are the next step in the right direction. Over the years, this aircraft type has proven its operational capabilities and value – it has been the backbone of our operations and has played an integral role in the international success story of airBaltic. By exercising these options, we are strengthening our unwavering support and trust in the A220 Programme and are looking forward to our fleet expansion over the upcoming years.”
Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, Executive Vice President of Sales of Airbus Commercial Aircraft business, said:
“We are honored and thankful that airBaltic is placing its fourth follow-up order. This latest agreement from Latvia’s flag carrier is a strong endorsement of the superior value and operational opportunities offered by this latest generation aircraft. The A220 is quite simply the most efficient aircraft in its size category, with a spacious cabin driving the best Net Promoter Scores with passengers wherever it is operated, and the range capability to fly non-stop to any destination on the carrier’s current network and beyond.”
Moving people and places
airBaltic reports that since the Airbus A220-300 was introduced, they have flown over 16.3 million passengers, flying close to 183 thousand flights and more than 401 thousand block hours.
For the airline, that has translated to them operating over 130 routes from Riga, Tallinn, Vilnius and Tampere across Europe, as well as to the the Middle East, North Africa, and the Caucasus region, as well as subleasing some of its fleet to the Lufthansa Group.
For airBaltic, the Airbus A220-300 has been a successful move, with them seeking to build on top of that success.
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