newstodate.aero

Sep 15, 2021 (newstodate): Two Airbus A220-300 aircraft for Latvia's airBaltic are now in the air - one still in its final flight test program, and the other delivered at Riga Airport on September 14, 2021, as the 31st unit in the fleet.
   The two aircraft made their first flights on September 2 and 8, respectively, and the delivery will bring the airline's fleet to a total of 32 units of this type, today the only type operated by airBaltic after phasing out the remaining Boeing 737 aircraft and the Q400 aircraft.
   airBaltic will thus have taken in a total of seven new aircraft in 2021, and this year's deliveries are part of the follow-up order for 50 aircraft, after which the airline still holds options for a further 30 aircraft with Airbus.
   Facing this continuous expansion of the fleet, airBaltic is not overly optimistic about any immediate recovery from the shortfall of traffic during the Covid-19 pandemic.
   According to the airline's CEO, Martin Gauss, speaking at an online event hosted by CAPA-Centre for Aviation, airBaltic does not expect to be back at pre-pandemic levels in 2022.
   -We are planning for 2022 as a year when we will still be below 2019-levels, Mr Gauss said.
   The carrier, therefore, does not expect a full recovery until 2023 - at the earliest.