October 5, 2026 — Latvian carrier airBaltic (BT) said on Monday it expects to cut between 500 and 700 jobs across its three Baltic bases as it shrinks its fleet under Chapter 11 protection. Flights are operating as scheduled.
What happened
airBaltic announced a collective redundancy process covering Riga, Vilnius and Tallinn. The airline employs about 3,000 people in the Baltics, so the cuts would reach roughly 17% to 23% of the workforce.
The final number is not fixed. The airline is consulting trade unions on reduced-workload arrangements for pilots and cabin crew, and the outcome of those talks could move the total. airBaltic says it is too early to give figures by base, department or employee group.
Chief executive Erno Hildén said “no final decisions have been made regarding individual employees.”
Key dates and numbers
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Jobs affected | 500–700 of about 3,000 |
| Bases | Riga, Vilnius, Tallinn. Split by base: TBA |
| New organizational structure | Expected to be defined by mid-October 2026 |
| Details to staff | During October 2026 |
| Dates jobs end | TBA |
| Authorities notified | Latvia’s State Employment Agency and the Estonian Unemployment Insurance Fund |
| Chapter 11 filing | September 14, 2026, in New York |
| Financing | €350 million debtor-in-possession package; first €140 million received. Court approval of the full amount is expected around October 9 |
Why the airline is shrinking
The cuts follow the business plan airBaltic announced in August 2026, which puts financial stability ahead of growth. AeroTime reports the airline will go from 54 Airbus A220-300s to 36 by the end of 2026, then build back to about 40 by 2031. Aviacionline puts the smaller fleet at 35 aircraft.
The airline also plans more year-round ACMI work, flying its aircraft and crews for other carriers. Estonian broadcaster ERR reports airBaltic will drop 11 routes from Tallinn next summer. Quartz reports the Chapter 11 filing cited debt, higher fuel costs and disruption linked to the Iran war.
What it means for non-revs
- No immediate change to flights. airBaltic says every scheduled flight is operating. There is no strike notice and no cancellation wave tied to this announcement.
- Fewer seats are coming. A fleet that is a third smaller means fewer frequencies and fuller flights on what remains. Standby odds on airBaltic from Riga, Vilnius and Tallinn are likely to get worse through the winter, not better.
- Tallinn takes a specific hit. Eleven Tallinn routes go next summer. If you use Tallinn as a Baltic gateway, check which routes survive before planning summer 2027 trips.
- ZED travelers should list early and carry a backup. No change to airBaltic’s interline agreements has been announced. A carrier in Chapter 11 can change its schedule at short notice, so confirm the flight is still operating before you leave for the airport.
- More ACMI flying means airBaltic jets on other airlines’ routes. Wet-lease flights normally carry the hiring airline’s flight number, so list under that airline’s staff travel rules.
- For airBaltic employees, watch for the mid-October structure announcement. Travel benefits for staff who leave have not been addressed publicly: TBA.
Sources
- AeroTime — airBaltic employees brace for hundreds of job cuts
- ERR News — airBaltic planning up to 700 layoffs across Tallinn, Riga and Vilnius
- Quartz — airBaltic cutting up to 700 jobs in bankruptcy restructuring
- Global Banking & Finance Review (Reuters) — airBaltic to Cut Up to 700 Jobs Amid Restructuring, Files Chapter 11
- Aviacionline — airBaltic to cut around 20% of its workforce
- airBaltic newsroom — airBaltic to Align Workforce with New Business Plan
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