Post by kronus on May 31, 2019 11:51:42 GMT 1
More details about planned exercise option for 30 more a220-300:
www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/78530-airbaltic-mulls-w-europe-base-under-own-aoc-and-brand
full text:
"airBaltic (BT, Riga) has confirmed that it may open at least one base in Western Europe if it exercises options for an additional thirty A220-300s, but that it would be done under its own brand and Air Operator's Certificate (AOC) and not through a subsidiary.
Earlier this week, reports suggested that the airline was considering setting up a separate subsidiary beyond its heartland of the three Baltic countries.
"airBaltic might consider an establishment of at least one base in Western Europe, but this would be done under the existing airBaltic AOC and airBaltic brand. However, the decision on whether to build such a base has not been made yet," the airline's spokesperson Ilva Priedniece told ch-aviation in an email.
As it transitions to an all-A220 fleet, the airline already has nineteen A220-300s in service and a further thirty-three on order, according to the ch-aviation fleets advanced module. Its six B737-300s, two B737-500s, and twelve Dash 8-400s will be phased out as the deliveries arrive. According to a recent analysis by Airline Route, airBaltic is currently tentatively planning to operate its last B737-300 service on October 26 followed by the last B737-500 flight on November 29 of this year.
The Baltic countries remain an immediate priority for growth, CEO Martin Gauss told Routes Online, stating: “Our business plan calls for up to 50 A220s to be based here, expanding from Riga which stays a hub-and-spoke airport but also Tallinn Lennart Meri and Vilnius. We’re adding aircraft to these two bases."
But with the additional aircraft on option, another phase of growth could take place further afield.
“If we exercise these options, we have identified other airports in Europe where we’re going to base the aircraft and fly the same concept, but it would not be in the Baltics. It would be a point-to-point operation to other countries outside the Baltics,” Gauss said.
The seven-hour range of the aircraft type would mean that Western Europe rather than India or Asia would be the logical choice for a base, he explained.
Gauss also said that airBaltic's strategy of forging individual codeshares with other carriers rather than joining a single alliance gave it “a geographical advantage”, highlighting the example of Etihad Airways. This partnership, together with airBaltic's switch to A220s, “makes it possible for a 150-seater to depart on a six-and-a-half-hour trip” to Abu Dhabi, which the Riga-based airline added to its network in 2017, and from which passengers can reach eastern Africa, India, and South East Asia for example."
www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/78530-airbaltic-mulls-w-europe-base-under-own-aoc-and-brand
full text:
"airBaltic (BT, Riga) has confirmed that it may open at least one base in Western Europe if it exercises options for an additional thirty A220-300s, but that it would be done under its own brand and Air Operator's Certificate (AOC) and not through a subsidiary.
Earlier this week, reports suggested that the airline was considering setting up a separate subsidiary beyond its heartland of the three Baltic countries.
"airBaltic might consider an establishment of at least one base in Western Europe, but this would be done under the existing airBaltic AOC and airBaltic brand. However, the decision on whether to build such a base has not been made yet," the airline's spokesperson Ilva Priedniece told ch-aviation in an email.
As it transitions to an all-A220 fleet, the airline already has nineteen A220-300s in service and a further thirty-three on order, according to the ch-aviation fleets advanced module. Its six B737-300s, two B737-500s, and twelve Dash 8-400s will be phased out as the deliveries arrive. According to a recent analysis by Airline Route, airBaltic is currently tentatively planning to operate its last B737-300 service on October 26 followed by the last B737-500 flight on November 29 of this year.
The Baltic countries remain an immediate priority for growth, CEO Martin Gauss told Routes Online, stating: “Our business plan calls for up to 50 A220s to be based here, expanding from Riga which stays a hub-and-spoke airport but also Tallinn Lennart Meri and Vilnius. We’re adding aircraft to these two bases."
But with the additional aircraft on option, another phase of growth could take place further afield.
“If we exercise these options, we have identified other airports in Europe where we’re going to base the aircraft and fly the same concept, but it would not be in the Baltics. It would be a point-to-point operation to other countries outside the Baltics,” Gauss said.
The seven-hour range of the aircraft type would mean that Western Europe rather than India or Asia would be the logical choice for a base, he explained.
Gauss also said that airBaltic's strategy of forging individual codeshares with other carriers rather than joining a single alliance gave it “a geographical advantage”, highlighting the example of Etihad Airways. This partnership, together with airBaltic's switch to A220s, “makes it possible for a 150-seater to depart on a six-and-a-half-hour trip” to Abu Dhabi, which the Riga-based airline added to its network in 2017, and from which passengers can reach eastern Africa, India, and South East Asia for example."