Photo: Air Baltic Latvian airline airBaltic has signed a new long-term wet lease agreement with Lufthansa Group, extending a partnership that will see the carrier operate up to six Airbus A220-300 aircraft on behalf of the German aviation group during the summer season.
Under the agreement, airBaltic will provide aircraft, crews and operational services for up to six aircraft in summer and four in winter. The arrangement is part of a broader capacity adjustment as the airline prepares to implement its new business plan.
The agreement comes as airBaltic plans to operate a fleet of 36 aircraft in 2027. Wet leasing, also known as ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance and Insurance), will remain an important part of its operations alongside its own scheduled flight network.
The Lufthansa Group partnership is not airBaltic's only wet lease arrangement. The Latvian carrier will also continue working with Air Serbia, providing four aircraft during the summer season and two during the winter.
Mantas Vrubliauskas, airBaltic's Vice President of Network Management, said the extension reflects the relationship built between the two companies over recent years.
He added that airline partners value airBaltic as an ACMI provider, pointing to its operational performance and passenger feedback. Vrubliauskas also highlighted the Airbus A220-300's fuel efficiency and passenger comfort as advantages for airlines incorporating the aircraft into their networks.
The expanded agreement gives Lufthansa Group access to additional aircraft and crews during periods of higher seasonal demand, while allowing airBaltic to generate revenue through operations outside its own scheduled network.
airBaltic, Latvia's national carrier, connects the Baltic States with destinations across Europe and beyond. The airline operates an all-Airbus A220-300 fleet and is majority-owned by the Latvian state, which holds 88.37% of its voting rights. Deutsche Lufthansa AG owns a 10% stake, with the remaining shares held by private investors.
The airline also introduced SpaceX Starlink high-speed internet on its flights in 2025, becoming the first European airline to offer the service.