airBaltic signs Lufthansa wet-lease deal to scale back A220 fleet

airBaltic has signed a new wet lease agreement with Lufthansa Group in preparation to reduce its Airbus A220-300 fleet to 36 aircraft in 2027.

On November 9, 2026, airBaltic said that under the agreement, it will operate up to six Airbus A220-300s with crew for Lufthansa during the summer season and four during the winter season.

In 2024, Lufthansa announced that it is extending its wet lease agreement with airBaltic for three more years starting the summer of 2025.

That contract allowed for airBaltic to deploy up to 21 additional Airbus A220-300 aircraft during summer 2025, and five more aircraft during the following winter.

Michael Derrer Fuchs / Shutterstock

In its latest statement, airBaltic said the two parties had signed a new longer term wet lease agreement that would continue the existing cooperation and “enable more balanced capacity allocation in line with the airline’s new business plan”.

Wet lease operations will form part of airBaltic’s activities alongside its own scheduled network.

airBaltic will also continue its wet lease cooperation with Air Serbia, with four aircraft planned for the summer season and two for the winter season.

“Lufthansa Group’s decision to extend our cooperation for the coming seasons reflects the trust we have built together over the past years,” Mantas Vrubliauskas, VP Network Management at airBaltic said. “Our partners value airBaltic as a reliable ACMI provider, with consistent operational performance and positive feedback from both the airlines we fly for and their passengers.”

Thet added: “With the A220-300, we offer a modern, fuel-efficient and comfortable product that fits seamlessly into our partners’ networks, and we look forward to continuing to support Lufthansa Group in the years ahead.”

airBaltic seeks financial stability

Earlier this year, airBaltic filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the US and confirmed plans to reduce its all-Airbus A220-300 fleet from 54 aircraft to 36 before gradually returning to around 40 by 2031.

In October 2026, airBaltic also confirmed that between 500 and 700 staff members could lose their jobs. airBaltic currently employs round 3,000 people across the Baltics.

The cost-cutting measures are part of the airline’s new business plan announced in August 2026, to prioritize “financial stability first, growth second”.

RELATED airBaltic to cut around 100 pilots and 200 cabin staff in latest savings drive

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