The Latvian airline Air Baltic is forced to make massive changes to its flight schedule for the 2025 summer season. A total of 4.670 flights from all of the airline's bases will be cancelled. This is due to significant delays in engine maintenance by supplier Pratt & Whitney. The effects are far-reaching: in addition to the cancellation of 19 routes and the reduction of frequencies on 21 other connections, an estimated 67.160 passengers are affected.
Pratt & Whitney has informed Air Baltic that several engines for the Airbus A220-300 fleet cannot be repaired in time. This means that many of the fleet's aircraft will have to remain grounded until 2025. The Airbus A220-300 is the backbone of the fleet, which is why the impact is particularly serious. The airline stressed that, like many other airlines around the world, it is affected by global problems in the supply chain.
The situation once again highlights the dependence of modern airlines on the reliability of their suppliers. Particularly when it comes to specialized components such as engines, the failure of a single supplier can cause massive disruptions to flight operations.
Affected routes and passengers
The cuts affect 19 routes, including connections to popular destinations within Europe. Frequencies on 21 other routes will also be reduced. Despite the significant restrictions, air Baltic plans to continue to offer more than 70 destinations in Europe, the Middle East, North Africa and the Caucasus region. The airline is striving to minimise the impact on its passengers by offering alternative flights and refunds.
Passengers whose flights have been cancelled are encouraged to check their reservations using the "Manage My Booking" feature on the air Baltic website, where they can rebook to other available flights or request full refunds. Customers who booked through third-party providers should contact the relevant platforms or the air Baltic call centre.
The airline said minimising disruptions was its top priority, while Air Baltic was working closely with Pratt & Whitney to find long-term solutions to the delays in engine maintenance.
insights into the route network
Air Baltic is known for its extensive connections from its bases in Riga, Tallinn, Vilnius and Tampere. The airline's route network includes more than 130 routes, including seasonal connections such as to Gran Canaria. This diversity is a key factor in Air Baltic's role as a link between the Baltic states and international air traffic.
The current situation at Air Baltic is not an isolated case, but reflects the challenges facing many airlines around the world. The global aviation industry continues to suffer from supply shortages, which have been exacerbated by the aftermath of the pandemic and ongoing supply chain problems. Airlines like Air Baltic, which rely on modern and specialized aircraft fleets, are particularly vulnerable.
The extensive cancellations in the 2025 summer flight schedule show how strongly external factors can influence the operations of even established airlines. It is now crucial for Air Baltic to keep the impact on passengers as low as possible while finding a sustainable solution to the technical problems.
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