10 airBaltic aircraft already equipped with Starlink internet

RIGA - Ten aircraft of the Latvian national airline airBaltic are equipped with SpaceX's Starlink internet connectivity system, Pauls Calitis, acting CEO and Chief Operating Officer of airBaltic, said on Thursday in a media call on the airline's first quarter financial results.

He said that the airline wants to equip all aircraft as soon as possible, but the top priority in the summer is to get all aircraft flying, as Starlink installation requires the aircraft to spend several days on the ground.

Thus, the most suitable times are sought when the aircraft are available to carry out the necessary modifications. "The priority is to equip the aircraft and utilize them in the airBaltic network," added Calitis.

He pointed out that the equipping has been delayed due to a number of factors, including the delayed certification of the system, which was finalized earlier this year, as well as the fact that there are some parts that need to be adapted due to new technologies.

Calitis said that the 50th Airbus A220-300 aircraft joined the airBaltic fleet in February this year, while the next aircraft is planned for the end of this year.

LETA has already reported that at the end of February this year, airBaltic started to introduce Starlink internet on its aircraft.

As reported, the airBaltic Group posted an audited loss of EUR 118.159 million for 2024, compared to a profit of EUR 747.572 million the year before, while its revenue increased by 11.9 percent year-on-year to EUR 747.572 million, according to the information published by the company.

Meanwhile, the Transport Ministry, airBaltic, and Lufthansa Group have signed an agreement, according to which Lufthansa Group will invest EUR 14 million in airBaltic for a minority stake, and Supervisory Board seat.

In return for its investment, Lufthansa Group will receive a convertible share granting a 10 percent stake, which will be issued at a subscription price of EUR 14 million and converted into ordinary shares upon a potential IPO of airBaltic. After IPO, the size of Lufthansa Group’s stake will be determined by market pricing of the potential IPO, with Lufthansa Group’s holding amounting to no less than 5 percent of airBaltic.

The Latvian state owns 97.97 percent of airBaltic's shares, while the financial investor, Danish businessman Lars Thuesen's Aircraft Leasing 1, owns 2.03 percent.

airBaltic carried 5.2 million passengers in 2024, which is an increase of 13 percent against a year before, while the number of the airline's flights rose 7 percent year-on-year to 47,000.