airBaltic records passenger growth and network expansion in 2025 anniversary year

In 2025, airBaltic marked its 30th anniversary with a year focused on operational reliability, customer experience, and network development, delivering record passenger numbers and solid performance across scheduled, ACMI, and charter operations.

The Latvian carrier operated 133 routes to 82 destinations in 38 countries, flying more than 47,000 scheduled flights and carrying over 5.2 million passengers, its highest annual total to date. Punctuality improved to 77%, reflecting gains in operational efficiency. Demand remained strong across key European, Middle Eastern, and hub-connectivity markets from Riga, Vilnius, and Tallinn.

Customer experience enhancements were led by the rollout of SpaceX Starlink inflight connectivity, making airBaltic the first European airline to offer the service. By year-end, Starlink was installed on 21 aircraft, with further expansion planned for 2026.

Fleet growth continued with the delivery of three new Airbus A220-300s, including the airline’s 50th A220, showcased in a special Baltic-themed livery. Partnerships were strengthened through expanded codeshares with Lufthansa Group airlines and Turkish Airlines, alongside new cooperation with Air India. Lufthansa Group also completed a minority investment in the airline.

ACMI operations grew strongly, with 30,000 flights operated (+14.5%), while charter services accounted for 654 flights. airBaltic retained its position as Riga Airport’s largest cargo and mail carrier, transporting over 800,000 mailbags and setting a new cargo payload record on a scheduled A220 flight.

The airline continued to invest in people and infrastructure, recruiting 414 employees, expanding simulator capacity, opening new hangars, and launching the Baltic Cargo Hub. Its Pilot Academy added new cadets and produced additional captains.

airBaltic also received multiple international awards for safety, fleet age, sustainability, and service quality. Looking ahead to 2026, the airline aims to reinforce its position as the carrier of choice in the Baltic region, with continued focus on fleet development, stable operations, and end-to-end passenger experience improvements.