Latvian-based carrier airBaltic announced that it carried 8.3 million passengers and completed 73,300 flights in 2024.
Preliminary airline’s data for 2024 shows that the company has exceeded its pre-pandemic figures, airBaltic announced in a statement on January 15, 2025. According to the airline, its passenger numbers reached “an all-time high in 2024”.
The total of 8.3 million passengers in 2024 marks an 18% rise from the 7 million passengers in 2023. Of this total, 5.2 million passengers traveled from its main bases: Riga, Tallinn, Vilnius, Tampere, and seasonally, Gran Canaria.
In December 2024 alone, airBaltic reported carrying 423,000 passengers, a 25% increase compared to the previous year, while operating 3,820 flights.
The airline’s total of 73,300 flights included Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, and Insurance (ACMI) operations, which were up from 65,500 flights in 2023. airBaltic operated 47,000 flights within its network, demonstrating a 7% growth compared to the previous year.
The load factors reached 81.2% for the year, showing a significant year-over-year increase of 4.5% points. This metric measures how much of the available seating capacity is filled with passengers.
However, the beginning of 2025 has not been as positive for the airline. On January 2, 2025, the carrier announced the cancellation of 4,670 flights from all its bases for the summer season of 2025.
The airline said it will cancel 19 routes and reduce frequencies on 21 others across its bases. In total, 4,670 flights will be cancelled, affecting an estimated 67,160 passengers.
The decision is due to “unexpected delays and prolonged engine maintenance” by its supplier Pratt & Whitney. airBaltic said the engine manufacturer’s inability to meet its timely maintenance obligations has impacted the operational capabilities of the airline’s Airbus A220-300 fleet.