airBaltic turns 30: Latvian airline marks founding anniversary

Latvian airline airBaltic is celebrating its 30th anniversary on August 28, 2025, marking the official founding date of the carrier. 

In a statement, the airline said that there will be a series of special events and activities in the upcoming weeks, culminating on October 1, 2025, the anniversary of its first flight in 1995 from Riga to Stockholm. 

“airBaltic has become the leading carrier in the Baltics. This achievement rests on the shoulders of nearly 3,000 dedicated colleagues and the trust of millions of passengers over three decades,” said Pauls Cālītis, Interim CEO of airBaltic. 

As airBaltic marks its 30th anniversary, AeroTime takes a look at some of the airline’s operational and strategic milestones that have shaped its current position.   

Looking back at airBaltic’s history 

airBaltic was founded on August 28, 1995, through a joint venture agreement between the Latvian state and Scandinavian Airlines (SAS). Just a few weeks later, on October 1, 1995, the airline launched its first commercial flight from Riga to Stockholm with a 33-seat Saab SF340 aircraft. 

Over the past 30 years, airBaltic has carried more than 65 million passengers and completed more than one million flights. 

Currently, airBaltic operates a fleet of 50 Airbus A220-300 aircraft, connecting the Baltic region, Tampere and, seasonally, Gran Canaria, with more than 80 destinations and 130 routes across Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, and the Caucasus. 

In February 2025, airBaltic became the first European carrier to introduce high-speed in-flight internet powered by SpaceX’s Starlink, welcomed its 50th Airbus A220-300 with a Baltic-themed design, and in July 2025, the carrier confirmed that Lufthansa Group plans to acquire a minority stake in the airline during the third quarter. 

However, the airline has also faced leadership challenges. In April 2025, long-time CEO Martin Gauss resigned after more than 13 years, following the loss of confidence from airBaltic’s majority owner, the Latvian government. 

On August 19, 2025, the carrier announced Erno Hildén as its new CEO, taking over from COO Pauls Cālītis, who had served as interim leader for the past five months. Hildén will officially start his role as CEO on December 1, 2025.  

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