airBaltic signs Lufthansa wet-lease deal as it scales back A220 fleet

· Aviation · Latvia · Germany

airBaltic has signed a new wet-lease agreement with Lufthansa Group as it prepares to reduce its Airbus A220-300 fleet, according to trade reports. A wet lease means the Latvian carrier will provide aircraft along with crew, maintenance and insurance to Lufthansa. The move comes as airBaltic rebalances capacity, and it gives Lufthansa additional short-haul lift without buying aircraft outright. airBaltic has been one of the largest A220 operators and a showcase customer for the type, so a smaller fleet marks a change in its growth trajectory.

Why it matters：Wet leasing lets major European groups add capacity flexibly while smaller carriers shed fleet risk, a structure increasingly shaping intra-European aviation.

Key points

  • The deal is a wet lease with Lufthansa Group.
  • airBaltic plans to reduce its A220-300 fleet.
  • The carrier provides aircraft, crew and maintenance under a wet lease.

Sources (original reporting)

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