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Martin Gauss Leaves airBaltic After 13 Years

Long time CEO of airBaltic, steps down with criticism: "The Latvian government showed distrust, and the board followed"

Photo: X Photo: X

“Today, my journey as CEO of airBaltic ends.”
With these words, Martin Gauss marked the conclusion of his 13-year tenure at the helm of airBaltic – one of Europe’s fastest-growing and most talked-about airlines in recent years.

In a post published on X (formerly Twitter), Gauss openly criticized the Latvian government, stating: “As the majority shareholder, it has withdrawn its trust in me – and the board acted accordingly.”

He continued: “I am leaving after 13 intense years, and I am proud of what we built – a resilient airline, a loyal team, and a bold vision. I gave my all – and I would do it again. Thank you to those who stood by my side. The mission continues, even if the seat changes.”

Photo: SHUTTERSTOCKPhoto: SHUTTERSTOCK

It remains unclear what exactly led to Martin Gauss’s dismissal. In an exclusive interview with PassportNews, the longtime airBaltic CEO said:
“After COVID and regional wars, airBaltic is experiencing growth. Expanding our route network has been one of the key factors behind our achievements. After losing all incoming and outgoing traffic from Ukraine and Russia, we had to reallocate that capacity elsewhere — and in 2024, we launched 20 new destinations, reaching a record of 130 routes for airBaltic.”

Tags: airBalticCEO DepartureAirline News

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