airBaltic to cut A220 fleet from 54 to 36 by end of 2026

airBaltic's supervisory board approved a plan that reduces the Airbus A220 fleet from 54 aircraft to 36 by the end of 2026. The airline will raise emergency capital and concentrate flying on profitable Latvian routes and year-round wet leases.

A prior goal of 100 aircraft is gone, with only about 40 planned by 2031. Available seat kilometers are projected at 9.6 billion in 2026. The 2027 figure is 8.7 billion. That is expected to rise to 10.5 billion by 2031. Management wants 225 million euros of interim financing and 100 million euros of new capital. Wet-lease flying for Lufthansa Group airlines is supposed to become year-round rather than summer-only so scheduled service can continue as jets leave.

Cash shortages have already produced talk of suspending operations. Closed Russian airspace has limited connecting itineraries, and downsizing is expected to bring network cuts. Lufthansa Group took a small stake in early 2025, reflecting the wet-lease relationship. Travellers using airBaltic or connecting through Latvia should expect fewer expansion routes and a tighter set of frequencies. Watch the published schedule for dropped flights as the smaller fleet takes shape.