Latvia’s national carrier airBaltic has welcomed its 50th Airbus A220-300, featuring a stunning new design celebrating Baltic culture.
The aircraft received its special paint job at Airbus’ Mirabel facility in Canada. It features the Latvian flag alongside unique design elements representing Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania.
This unique aircraft will join airBaltic’s fleet in February 2025, marking a significant achievement in the airline’s fleet modernization strategy.
Special Design via Worldwide Competition
The special livery design emerged from a worldwide competition launched by airBaltic in late 2023. The contest drew 840 submissions, with airBaltic Club members casting over 28,000 votes to select 21 finalists.
The airline acquired the top three designs, all celebrating Baltic heritage. Overall, the winning concept garnered more than 30% of votes from the shortlist. This democratic approach to aircraft design represents airBaltic’s commitment to engaging with its community and celebrating regional culture.
The winning design features an artistic interpretation of a young woman floating through clouds. Her flowing hair is adorned with a traditional wreath and the Latvian flag prominently displayed.
The livery incorporates symbolic Baltic elements including a ladybug, swallow, and stork, representing the region’s natural beauty.
airBaltic adapted the original concept to meet technical aircraft specifications while maintaining the artistic integrity of the design.
Applying the Distinctive Paint Scheme
The aircraft’s distinctive paint scheme required 18 days to complete, utilizing 21 different colors. The Airbus A220 paint team in Mirabel, Canada, pioneered a new stencil overlay technique to achieve the complex color layering effect.
This innovative painting process represents the first time such a technique has been employed on an A220 aircraft, setting new standards for aircraft livery design and implementation.
airBaltic’s Journey to Date
Founded in 1995, airBaltic has established itself as a key player in Baltic aviation, connecting the region with over 70 destinations across Europe, the Middle East, and Central Asia.
The airline’s decision to standardize its fleet with the A220-300 aircraft has proven instrumental in improving operational efficiency and reducing environmental impact. The aircraft type offers 20% lower fuel consumption compared to previous generation aircraft.
Martin Gauss, airBaltic’s President and CEO, reflected on the milestone. “We pioneered the Airbus A220-300 as its global launch operator over eight years ago, and it has since become essential to our operations.”
“This 50th aircraft completes our initial order and marks the halfway point toward our vision of operating 100 A220-300s and doubling our size by 2030. The A220-300’s superior economics and passenger comfort have been fundamental to our success in the competitive European aviation market.”
“As the Baltic region’s leading airline, we wanted this design to capture the essence of our three Baltic nations. This aircraft will carry our regional spirit across the skies with every flight,” Gauss continued, emphasizing the airline’s role as a cultural ambassador for the Baltic states.
Airbus Canada’s CEO, Benoît Schultz, also commented. “airBaltic leads Europe in A220 fleet size and operates the world’s largest A220-300 fleet. They chose the A220 for its superior efficiency and passenger-friendly cabin, which consistently achieves top satisfaction scores.”
“The A220 embodies Airbus’s commitment to innovative global connectivity, having transported over 160 million passengers worldwide.”
The new aircraft will strengthen airBaltic’s position as a leading carrier in Northern Europe, supporting its ambitious growth plans while showcasing Baltic culture and innovation across its expanding route network.
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