Germany’s competition authority the Bundeskartellamt has cleared plans by Lufthansa Group to acquire a minority stake in Latvia-based airline airBaltic.
SUA plans to operate services with leased airBaltic Airbus A220-300s, which the new airline believes to be “an excellent fit for our operational model.”
A larger version of the A220 has always been firmly planned. But much to the displeasure of key customers, a launch decision keeps moving to the right.
The Latvian airline expects issues with the Pratt & Whitney manufactured engine to continue this year and into 2026 but expects some continuous improvements.
Latvian carrier AirBaltic is expecting to have its full A220-300 fleet back in service at some point in 2027, based on updated guidance from Pratt & Whitney.
AirBaltic and SUA Líneas Aéreas signed a strategic partnership, where the Latvian carrier plans to wet-lease up to five Airbus A220-300s to Latin America.
AirBaltic continues to work on plans for an initial public offering, which is now set to take place in the spring of 2025 at the earliest, the airline said.
Airlines hoping for a 2025 free from the engine and supply chain issues that have plagued the industry in the past years are likely in for a disappointment.
Ibom Air is looking to transition to an all-Airbus A220 fleet to expand its intra-African operations, mirroring the business model of Latvian carrier airBaltic.
AirBaltic will open flights between its base in Riga, Latvia, and Rzeszów, Poland, hoping to serve Ukrainians seeking to travel from the war-torn country.
