airBaltic Continues Rapid Growth As A220s Are Delivered But Pace To Slow From 2020

airBaltic CEO Martin Gauss discusses the airline’s rapid growth the last two years, its fleet plan, network expansion opportunities from its three existing bases and the possibility of opening new bases outside the Baltics. airBaltic has taken delivery of 19 A220s since late 2016 and has another 31 on order, which will be used to phase out 737s and Dash 8s while growing the overall fleet to 50 aircraft. With the full C220 fleet of 50 aircraft airBaltic plans to grow its main base in Riga (Latvia) as well as its smaller existing bases in Tallinn (Estonia) and Vilnius (Lithuania). airBaltic plans to consider opening new bases outside the Baltics using its options for 30 additional A220s. The airline grew by around 20% in 2018 and is growing by another 20% this year but plans to slow down its rate of capacity growth in 2020 and beyond. Growth of around 10% is projected for 2020.