airBaltic, the national airline of Latvia, has officially launched an international executive search to appoint a new Chief Executive Officer, following the departure of longtime CEO Martin Gauss. The process is expected to last approximately three months, and notably, the airline confirmed that no compensation or severance will be paid to Gauss.
Air Peace, Nigeria’s largest carrier, has taken delivery of one Airbus A320 aircraft, on wet lease from Latvian ACMI operator SmartLynx. The aircraft, bearing serial number 2233, is powered by CFM56-5B4/P engines, a reliable workhorse engine widely used across the A320 family.
airBaltic, the flag carrier of Latvia, has announced a major leadership change as CEO Martin Gauss stepped down from his position following a decision made at the company’s regular Shareholders’ Meeting. Pauls Calitis, currently serving as Chief Operating Officer (COO) and a Management Board Member, has been appointed as Interim CEO.
Air Peace, Nigeria’s largest airline, has further strengthened its fleet by wet leasing an additional Airbus A320 aircraft from SmartLynx Airlines, based in Latvia. This aircraft, with serial number 3954, is part of Air Peace’s strategy to enhance its capacity and improve its service offerings across its network.
airBaltic (Latvia) has announced the successful completion of the Baltic Cargo Hub, marking a significant milestone in the region’s air freight industry. The new facility is now the largest dedicated air cargo handling hub in the Baltics, designed to enhance cargo capacity, efficiency, and operational flexibility for airBaltic and its logistics partners.
airBaltic (Latvia) will be able to evaluate the refinancing of its $397 million bond debt starting in May 2026, as the airline seeks to optimize its financial structure and reduce borrowing costs.
airBaltic (Latvia) is considering pushing back its planned IPO to early 2026, as CEO Martin Gauss acknowledged that ongoing engine delivery challenges are restricting the airline’s growth trajectory.
Lufthansa Group has signed an agreement to acquire a 10% convertible share in airBaltic for a subscription price of €14 million. This strategic move grants Lufthansa a seat on airBaltic’s Board and positions the group for future equity participation in the Latvian carrier.
airBaltic (Latvia) has entered a strategic partnership with SUA Lineas Aereas (Uruguay), expanding its leasing operations into South America. As part of the agreement, airBaltic plans to wet lease up to five Airbus A220-300 aircraft to SUA starting October 2025, marking an important step in its ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, and Insurance) leasing strategy.
airBaltic, the national airline of Latvia, has reached an agreement with the Ministry of Transport to terminate the duties of its existing Supervisory Board. This decision will take effect on 11 February 2025, signaling significant leadership changes within the airline’s governance structure.
