newstodate.aero
Sep 09, 2013 (newstodate): The Latvian carrier airBaltic has now completed its deliveries of new Bombardier Q400 aircraft, bringing the fleet to 12 units.
Also in the fleet of the carrier are eight Boeing 737-300 and five Boeing 737-400 aircraft.
Besides, the carrier still has two Boeing 757-200 aircraft that are, however, now dedicated to the wet-lease market after having been temporarily used as extra back-up capacity on some routes during this year's summer schedule following their return from a contract in Cambodia.
Still, 12 Bombardier Q400 and 13 Boeing 737 aircraft is a plenty considering the carrier's reining-in of the route network and the corresponding drop in passenger volumes under the airBaltic ReShape program.
-We will indeed have over-capacity in the coming winter schedule, but our response to this is to keep some aircraft on the ground which is after all more cost-efficient than operating too many flights unprofitably, says Martin Gauss, airBaltic CEO.
-The situation will, however, enable us to flexibly allocate aircraft to the individual flights reflecting the actual booking situation. Thus, it can be profitable to operate a Boeing 737 even on a shorter route if bookings exceed the capacity of the Bombardier Q400 that may conversely also be operated on a longer route instead of Boeing 737 if warranted by the actual booking situation.
-It's all about profitability. We will swap aircraft types and ground aircraft during a slack season to make sure that operations are cost-efficient, and the goal remains to return to full-year profitability by 2014.
-We are ahead of our plans, both May and June were profitable and July also seems to have been profitable, says Mr Gauss.
Also in the fleet of the carrier are eight Boeing 737-300 and five Boeing 737-400 aircraft.
Besides, the carrier still has two Boeing 757-200 aircraft that are, however, now dedicated to the wet-lease market after having been temporarily used as extra back-up capacity on some routes during this year's summer schedule following their return from a contract in Cambodia.
Still, 12 Bombardier Q400 and 13 Boeing 737 aircraft is a plenty considering the carrier's reining-in of the route network and the corresponding drop in passenger volumes under the airBaltic ReShape program.
-We will indeed have over-capacity in the coming winter schedule, but our response to this is to keep some aircraft on the ground which is after all more cost-efficient than operating too many flights unprofitably, says Martin Gauss, airBaltic CEO.
-The situation will, however, enable us to flexibly allocate aircraft to the individual flights reflecting the actual booking situation. Thus, it can be profitable to operate a Boeing 737 even on a shorter route if bookings exceed the capacity of the Bombardier Q400 that may conversely also be operated on a longer route instead of Boeing 737 if warranted by the actual booking situation.
-It's all about profitability. We will swap aircraft types and ground aircraft during a slack season to make sure that operations are cost-efficient, and the goal remains to return to full-year profitability by 2014.
-We are ahead of our plans, both May and June were profitable and July also seems to have been profitable, says Mr Gauss.