Latvia’s national airBaltic airline and Bombardier Commercial Aircraft have announced the signing of a procurement contract for 30 Bombardier CS300 aircraft with option to procure 30 more in the future.
This order is an addition to the one signed for the provision of 20 CS300 aircraft. It also forms the foundation for airBaltic’s Destination 2025 business plan, continuing the previous Horizon 2021 plan.
“As the first airline in the world to have commenced flights using CS300 aircraft, we have made a far-reaching decision in favor of new technologies that will help ensure sustainable profitability. Because CS300 helps save up to 22% of fuel, it helps maintain operational costs down. We experienced excellent growth in 2017. We also proved to the world this aircraft’s unique advantages. We have successfully commenced modernization of our existing fleet. We are happy to expand our fleet to up to 80 CS300 aircraft, which will replace our other aircraft within the next year,” says airBaltic CEO Martin Gauss.
“Now we are ready to commence the next stage of our business strategy – Destination 2025. As part of this strategy, airBaltic has plans to expand its activities. One major part of the new business plan is the formation of a larger and more exclusive fleet consisting only of CS300 aircraft, which are more appropriate for our market,” said Gauss.
Destination 2025 is based on expansion of all routes for all three Baltic States and ensuring regular connectivity with the main European capitals. The strategy provides for airBaltic to achieve a significant increase of passengers and revenue by 2025. Already leading European airlines have single-type aircraft fleets, which helps improve cost-efficiency. Procurement of new aircraft will help provide airBaltic with the necessary pre-conditions to secure long-term stability.
Latvia’s Transport Minister Uldis Augulis believes 2017 was the most successful in airBaltic’s history. (BNN/Business World Magazine)
