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Riga, Latvia – In November 2024, 8 students graduated from the Pilot Academy of the Latvian national airline airBaltic, receiving a commercial pilot license upon completion of the full-time airline transport pilot program. Additionally, the 24^th group of 17 students has already begun their professional pilot studies.

Martin Gauss, CEO and President of airBaltic, said: “It’s a pleasure to recognize and congratulate the latest graduates of the Pilot Academy. Many of them will soon begin further training, getting ready to join the airBaltic team. Having skilled and well-prepared professionals is essential to the success of any airline.”

Gauss added, “We also warmly welcome the dedicated students of the 24^th group, who start their journey with us today. As airBaltic grows and moves towards its goal of operating 100 aircraft in the coming years, these committed individuals will be vital to reaching our future ambitions.”

The graduates represent countries such as Austria, Germany, Latvia, the Netherlands, Spain, and Switzerland, while the new group includes students from Finland, France, Germany, Italy, and Latvia.

There are 138 active students at the airBaltic Pilot Academy at the moment. Most of them are from the Baltic countries, however, there are students also from other EU countries such as Denmark, Germany, France, Finland, Spain and Italy among others. Overall, more than 10% of airBaltic Pilot Academy students are female. As for now, 124 students, after graduating, have joined airBaltic.

Students of the airBaltic Pilot Academy have to cover the costs of ATPL theory studies and 45 flight hours, costing EUR 15 000. After passing airBaltic pilot assessment and becoming an employee of the company, the airline will provide financing (loan) for the rest of the studies.

Additionally, airBaltic is set to expand its training capabilities with the arrival of a second Airbus A220 full flight simulator later this year. Scheduled for delivery in the fourth quarter of 2024, the new simulator will significantly enhance the airline’s ability to train and maintain the qualifications of its growing number of pilots, supporting both the airline’s fleet expansion and the continued development of its Pilot Academy.

About airBaltic
airBaltic (Air Baltic Corporation AS) is the leading airline in the Baltics and one of Europe’s fastest-growing carriers. As a hybrid airline, it leverages the upsides of both traditional network and low-cost carriers. Through a network of more than 130 routes from Riga, Tallinn, Vilnius, Tampere and, seasonally, Gran Canaria, airBaltic connects the Baltics with over 80 destinations across Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, and the Caucasus. Founded in 1995, today airBaltic operates one of Europe’s youngest fleets, consisting of 49 Airbus A220-300 aircraft, and employs over 2 700 professionals. The company is majority-owned by the Latvian state, which holds a 97.97% stake, with the remaining 2.03% owned by private shareholders.

airBaltic’s commitment to excellence is recognized by numerous prestigious awards including the Best Airline in its region by Skytrax for three consecutive years. In 2022, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) recognized airBaltic with the Diversity and Inclusion Team Award. Furthermore, in 2023, APEX awarded the company the Passenger Choice Award for Best Cabin Service in Europe, and in 2024 airBaltic also received the APEX Four Star Major Airline Award, recognizing its commitment to providing a high-quality travel experience. In 2024, the airline was awarded the PROS AI Innovator Award for leveraging AI to drive transformative outcomes and optimize operations.

Source: airBaltic
Photo Credit: airBaltic