Latvian flag carrier airBaltic has confirmed an order for an additional 10 Airbus A220-300 aircraft, bringing its total firm order to 90 planes. The announcement was made on Tuesday in Mirabel, Canada.
This marks the fourth reorder for airBaltic, which is currently the largest A220 customer in Europe and the largest A220-300 operator globally. The airline already operates a fleet of nearly 50 A220-300s and has been flying the aircraft type exclusively since 2020.
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.”
Gauss added, “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.”
The A220, which carries between 120 to 150 passengers on flights up to 3,600 nautical miles (6,700 km), is touted for its efficiency and reduced environmental impact. According to Airbus, the aircraft offers a 25% lower fuel burn and CO2 emissions per seat compared to previous generation aircraft.
Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, executive vice president of sales at Airbus Commercial Aircraft, stated, “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.”
As of the end of July, Airbus has secured more than 900 orders for the A220 from around 30 customers, with approximately 350 delivered. The aircraft is currently in service with more than 20 operators worldwide on over 1,400 routes.
Airbus reports that the A220 is already capable of operating with up to 50% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), with aims to increase this to 100% by 2030 across all its aircraft models.
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