airBaltic employees are bracing for hundreds of job cuts across bases in Riga in Latvia, Vilnius in Lithuania and Tallinn in Estonia as part of workforce adjustments to ensure the airline’s future.
On October 5, 2026, airBaltic announced between 500 and 700 staff members could lose their jobs. airBaltic currently employs round 3,000 people across the Baltics.
The move is part of the airline’s new business plan announced in August 2026, to prioritize “financial stability first, growth second”.
The new plan includes a more focused network centered around Riga, a reduced all-Airbus A220-300 fleet, stronger year-round ACMI partnerships, and improved operational efficiency.
By the end of 2026, airBaltic expects to reduce its fleet of 54 Airbus A220-300s down to 36, with a plan to gradually increase this to around 40 aircraft by 2031.
The airline said that the proposed job losses are a current estimate, and the number may change within the course of the process.
“The range reflects ongoing consultations with trade unions on potential reduced workload arrangements for pilots and cabin crew, as well as the development of new organisational structures for the rest of the company,” an airBaltic spokesperson said.
They added: “As individual decisions have not yet been made, it would be premature to provide estimates for individual bases, functions or employee groups.”
Erno Hildén, President and CEO of airBaltic, said that the airline recognizes that this is an “important and sensitive process” for the whole team.
“Our priority is to handle it with transparency, respect, and care, while keeping our employees informed as the process progresses,” Hildén said. “No final decisions have been made regarding individual employees, and we will engage directly with our colleagues as the next steps are determined. We remain committed to carrying out the process in full compliance with all applicable legal and regulatory requirements, as well as the relevant consultation procedures.”
airBaltic has notified the State Employment Agency of the planned collective redundancy process.
In September 2026, airBaltic filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the United States, launching a court-supervised restructuring to reduce its debt while keeping flights operating.
Air Baltic Corporation and certain subsidiaries voluntarily filed with the US Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York on September 14, 2026.
At the time the airline said scheduled flights, ticket sales, reservations and customer services would continue normally throughout the process. Existing tickets, vouchers and credits remain valid.