‘The core values remain’: airBaltic interim CEO Pauls Cālītis on life post-Gauss

In April 2025, following the departure of airBaltic CEO, Martin Gauss, the airline’s COO Pauls Cālītis was announced as interim chief executive, tasked with steadying the ship after his predecessor lost the confidence of the company’s majority shareholder, the Latvian government.  

“I leave after 13 intense years, proud of what we built: a resilient airline, a loyal team, and a bold vision. I gave everything — and I would do it again. Thank you to those who stood by me. The mission continues, even if the seat changes,” wrote Gauss after leaving. 

The departure of Gauss after 13 years at the helm of the Baltic carrier put Cālītis in the unique position of leading an airline for a temporary period. 

airBaltic are searching for a CEO with an “international perspective” and have so far received more than 40 applications from nearly 30 countries, according to Baltic News Network. 

The process of whitling down the candidates to confirm a new CEO is expected to take a further three months. 

As of today, April 7, 2025, Pauls Cālītis, current Management Board Member and Chief Operations Officer, assumes the duties of Interim Chief Executive Officer. Vitolds Jakovļevs will continue in his role as Management Board Member and Chief Financial Officer.Interim CEO Pauls… pic.twitter.com/wopCiuu232— airBaltic (@airBaltic) April 7, 2025 AeroTime spoke with Cālītis on May 28, 2025, to learn more about the transition process of taking over and airBaltic’s current status and the airline’s plans for the near future.  

Cālītis joined airBaltic 30 years ago and was among the first group of pilots recruited when operations began. As COO Cālītis was well placed to ensure the departure of his predecessor was as seamless as possible. 

“I have been involved in both the development of our strategy that we’re currently pursuing, and I’ve also been responsible for execution of that strategy. So that puts me well placed from the get-go. I know what we need to do and how we’re going to do it,” said Cālītis 

Cālītis said that his immediate focus after becoming interim CEO was ensuring that the leadership team was aligned and to reach out and connect with the carrier’s 2,800 employees. 

Secondly, Cālītis said it was important to communicate with external stakeholders and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), including Airbus, to make sure the airline was ready for the busy summer season ahead.  

Commenting on the departure of Gauss, Cālītis said that any company would be affected by the departure of someone that had played such a “pivotal role” and been the face of the airline both externally and internally. 

Martin Gauss (airBaltic)Cālītis said there was an “emotional effect” but operationally the airline showed resilience and as “we would expect from professionals, we also received a professional outcome”. 

“Obviously, with any management change, there will be some work, and it gives some opportunity to do some internal reflection, and also possibility to make changes, but the fundamental strategy and core values remain,” Cālītis told AeroTime.  

Lufthansa collaboration

Cālītis took time to praise the airline’s three-year agreement with Lufthansa to flexibly place some of its Airbus A220-300s with its German partner.  

“We’re in the first year of that execution of this new agreement, and we have had 19 aircraft placed with them since the end of March. And this is, this is also very critical, complicated, but something that we also execute, I think, at a very high level,” said Cālītis. 

Reflecting on the progress of Lufthansa becoming a 10% minority shareholder in airBaltic, Cālītis said that the airline is still waiting for the sign off from the German anti-competition authority which is expected in the coming months.  

Cālītis confirmed that its Initial Public Offering (IPO) is currently “paused” due to volatility in international money markets established in April 2025 that have since “calmed down considerably”. The airline also wants to conclude its search for a new CEO. 

“Once those two things are in place. There are a lot of ifs and scenarios and possibilities but there is a path for an IPO later this year, and there are obviously new windows also in 2026. So currently, we’re not closing any doors. It won’t be sooner than fall of this year,” said Cālītis. 

New Airbus A220-300s

In a key milestone, airBaltic welcomed its 50th A220-300 earlier this year, and Cālītis said while the 51st Airbus arrival is yet to be finalized, it is due to join the fleet before the end of 2025. By mid-2026 the airline expects its fleet of A220-300s to increase to around 55 to 57 aircraft. 

Cālītis described issues with unexpected delays and prolonged engine maintenance by its supplier Pratt & Whitney as “frustrating” and one of airBaltic’s most “significant headwinds” over the last few years. 

In January 2025, airBaltic announced it would cancel 4,670 flights from all its bases for the summer season due to engine shortages, but Cālītis thinks things are now improving.  

“The metrics and the different indicators that we have are starting to show that we’re turning the page or getting more stability, and we’re seeing signs of improvement,” said the interim CEO. 

According to Cālītis “depending on the day” the airline has eight or nine aircraft out of service because of engine issues.  

“We want to be in a better place in 2026, and hopefully a significantly better place. And I would want to be in 2027 in a fully normalized scenario,” added Cālītis. 

The carrier is currently working on its winter schedule, and while it is already operating more flights this year than last year, the arrival of new aircraft in 2025 will see even more new destinations added. 

Future fleet 100 aircraft strong

Looking five years ahead, Cālītis expects airBaltic to be in the region of flying 100 aircraft with a continuing focus on serving the Baltic region. 

He also sees the airline’s relationship with Lufthansa developing and is confident the lease agreement will be extended. He also believes other markets could be available. 

“I would expect that we as an ACMI [Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, and Insurance] we would be well known, not just in Europe, but we would be also outside of Europe, as a part of our business. I think we’re well placed for that, utilize the fleet efficiently. There are other markets that are underserved at different parts of the year,” explained Cālītis. 

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