European Airline-owned Pilot Training Organization Welcomes First 2026 Cadet Class with 17 Students from 10 Countries

Latvia –airBaltic Training, the training arm of the Latvian national airline airBaltic, has welcomed its 29th group of cadets to the airBaltic Pilot Academy. On January 14, 2026, a new class of 17 students from 10 European countries began their journey toward earning a commercial pilot license.

• The new intake includes cadets from Austria, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, and Spain.
• This is the first cohort of the 2026 academic year and brings the academy’s total to 175 active students, with more than 10% of them being female.
• airBaltic Pilot Academy offers a clear career pathway from cadet to Captain, with 164 graduates already flying for airBaltic—many as First Officers and several as Captains or instructors.
• Last year alone, five former graduates were promoted to Captain, reflecting the maturity of the academy's internal pilot pipeline.
• The programme requires students to initially fund ATPL theory and 45 flight hours (Euro 25,000), with the remainder financed by the airline upon successful assessment and employment.

Statements

• “It is a pleasure to welcome the new group of students – the first of this academic year. Their choice to pursue a pilot career reflects the continued demand for highly skilled aviation professionals. Each new group of cadets represents an important investment in the next generation of pilots who will support airBaltic’s future growth and the wider aviation industry,”said Pauls Cālītis, Chief Operations Officer at airBaltic.

About airBaltic Training
airBaltic Training is the pilot training division of airBaltic, headquartered in Latvia, offering ab initio and advanced airline training. Its airBaltic Pilot Academy delivers EASA-compliant training with a direct employment pathway into the airline’s Airbus A220-300 fleet. The academy supports a growing international student body and a structured cadet-to-captain programme.

Source: airBaltic Training Photo Credit: airBaltic Training