SWISS will stop using Airbus A220s operated by airBaltic after the current winter season, ending a wet-lease relationship that became an important part of the Latvian carrier’s business with the Lufthansa Group.
Four airBaltic A220-300s are operating for SWISS during the 2026/27 winter schedule, but none are planned for summer 2027. The Swiss carrier intends to reduce its overall wet-lease fleet from 26 to around 18 aircraft as more of its own jets return to service.
The decision follows months of uncertainty over the arrangement. In September, SWISS said it was preparing alternatives to airBaltic after the Latvian carrier entered restructuring proceedings, although it maintained at the time that the existing agreement remained in place.
SWISS says the decision to end the airBaltic operation is not related to the Latvian carrier’s financial situation. Improved aircraft availability and an easing of pilot shortages should allow it to operate more flights with its own fleet.
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Around seven additional Airbus A320 Family aircraft are expected to become available for SWISS operations. The airline will continue using wet-leased aircraft from Helvetic Airways.
Lufthansa Group reduces reliance on airBaltic
The change at SWISS is part of a wider reduction in the number of airBaltic aircraft flying for Lufthansa Group carriers.
During summer 2026, as many as 20 airBaltic A220s operated for SWISS, Austrian Airlines and Brussels Airlines. Brussels used four aircraft but does not plan to resume the arrangement in summer 2027 after operating without airBaltic jets during the winter.
Lufthansa itself did not use airBaltic aircraft during summer 2026 and is not doing so during the current winter season.
Austrian remains the main uncertainty. Six airBaltic A220s operated for the airline during summer 2026. The carrier was not scheduled to use them during the winter, but it remains contractually linked to airBaltic and has not yet disclosed how many aircraft, if any, it will require for summer 2027.
The Lufthansa Group says its cooperation with airBaltic will continue and that planning for the 2027 summer schedule has not been completed.
The German company has been particularly important to that operation. In addition to being a major customer for airBaltic’s aircraft, it acquired a 10% stake in the Latvian airline ahead of its planned initial public offering.
Wet leasing became a major source of revenue
The loss of the SWISS operation comes while airBaltic is restructuring its finances under Chapter 11 protection in the United States.
Wet leasing, also known as ACMI, under which an airline supplies the aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance to another carrier, has become a substantial source of revenue for airBaltic as its A220 fleet expanded.
The business generated €98 million (US$114 million) during the first half of 2026, equivalent to 24.6% of airBaltic’s total revenue.
The Lufthansa Group has been particularly important to that operation. In addition to being a major customer for airBaltic’s aircraft, the German aviation group acquired a 10% stake in the Latvian airline ahead of its planned initial public offering.
airBaltic currently operates an all-A220-300 fleet. Its strategy combines scheduled services from its Baltic bases with the placement of aircraft and crews with other European airlines, allowing capacity to be shifted between its own network and ACMI contracts according to seasonal demand.
airBaltic has also been seeking other ways to deploy resources from its A220 operation during the restructuring. In September, it reached an agreement with Papua New Guinea’s Air Niugini to provide A220 pilots from 2027.
Up to 45 airBaltic pilots could participate in the program, although Air Niugini said it expects to use as many as 30. The initial agreement runs for 12 months and calls for pilots to work four-week rotations in Papua New Guinea.
