Portugal’s EuroAtlantic recruits ex-Air Baltic executive as new chief

Calitis previously served as interim leader of the Latvian carrier.

Portuguese wet-lease carrier EuroAtlantic Airways has named ex-Air Baltic executive Pauls Calitis as its new chief executive, succeeding Stewart Higginson.

Calitis, the chief operating officer of Air Baltic, was briefly appointed as the airline’s interim leader after a no-confidence vote last year which ousted then-chief Martin Gauss.

Air Baltic subsequently recruited Erno Hilden as a permanent replacement for Gauss.

EuroAtlantic credits Calitis with a “strong focus on operational excellence, safety and delivery”, having managed the Air Baltic fleet modernisation and its wet-lease activity.

Based in Lisbon, EuroAtlantic has been undergoing its own fleet expansion under the ownership of investor Njord Partners which took control two years ago.

The carrier introduced an Airbus A330-200 last year, building on a widebody Boeing fleet which includes two 777-200ERs and three 767-300ERs.

EuroAtlantic states that it is set to expand further with two A330s in the second half of this year.

It says its capacity for this year is “substantially committed” and it has only “limited fleet availability” remaining for 2027.

“With several long-term contracts in place and continuously high customer interest, [we are] well-positioned to navigate current market turbulence and capitalise on growth opportunities,” the airline adds.

Calitis will take over the top post on 18 May. He says the carrier has made “tremendous strides in recent years” and that he is keen to “[build] on this momentum”.

Higginson, who has led the airline since early 2024, will move into the role of non-executive chair.