Latvian airline airBaltic already operates its fleet of A220s on some of the longest flights for the type. Now the carrier wants to stretch its wings a bit further. It applied this week for authority to operate both scheduled and charter services to the United States.
The application does not specify a timing for services to launch, other than a standard clause to “begin the proposed services as soon as possible.” Nor does it list specific initial routes the carrier might be interested in operating, something typically included in similar applications.
The airline does, however, confirm to PaxEx.aero that it is serious about the opportunity:
The application has been filed in order to explore the airline’s opportunities in this market and secure the needed documentation in case any plans are confirmed.
Limited transatlantic options with the A220
One limiting factor for the potential opportunities is the available range of the carrier’s A220-300 fleet. While the type does have the legs to cross the Atlantic, airBaltic’s home base in Riga is relatively far east in Europe. A nonstop route between its main hub and the US is almost certainly not in play. But that’s not airBaltic’s only hub.
The carrier set up a base in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria for this winter season, service 10 destinations. Flights from there to the northeastern US could be viable, though still longer than the carrier’s current longest scheduled flight between Las Palmas and Tampere.
Similarly, US-based upstart Breeze has teased flights from the northeast to Europe on its A220s, with the UK and Ireland the most likely options. airBaltic could also operate similar routes (or from Iceland) given current government agreements and the aircraft’s range.
Charters as a first step?
Another option could materialize in the form of charter operations. Some European carriers have taken advantage of demand for winter charters in the US to warm weather destinations, keeping planes (and people) moving when demand in Europe softens.
Those operations are not without challenges, particularly with respect to objections from US carriers upset at the additional competition. The A220 might also face some limits with respect to baggage capacity, particularly in the Cuba charter market. That segment also remains relatively week historically.
But the charters are permitted by the US-European open skies treaty and explicitly listed in airBaltic’s application, among the other options.
For now airBaltic has its codeshare with Delta Air Lines within Europe. It is not clear that the planned US operations would impact or benefit from that in any way. Indeed, given Delta’s transatlantic operations and joint venture adding another partner there is not likely in the cards.
But airBaltic is exploring. And having the regulatory approvals is better than not having them, with no obligations to actually operate.
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Tom says
Perhaps they are making this application in order to place their code on other carriers’ flights across the Atlantic?
Seth Miller says
Nope. They already have that secured (with Delta as the first partner) and the application explicitly states the flights would be run on airBaltic-operated planes. If it happens.