Latvian carrier Air Baltic is bringing forward the withdrawal of Boeing 737s from its fleet, removing the last of the type from service this year.
The airline says the 737s will be phased out a year earlier than originally intended. It will stop using the twinjets in autumn 2019.
Air Baltic operates six 737-300s and two 737-500s (below).
Air Baltic
It has already been reducing the 737 fleet as it modernises with Airbus A220-300s. The carrier says accelerating this withdrawal will “minimise complexity” in its operations.
“We will have the youngest jet fleet in Europe,” claims chief executive Martin Gauss.
Air Baltic has ordered 50 A220s and 14 of the type are in service with the Riga-based airline.
It expects to receive another eight this year. The carrier has not indicated whether it is amending capacity to account for the 737 withdrawal.
Air Baltic is opening new services this year including links to Dublin, Stuttgart and Lviv. The airline, which also uses Bombardier Q400, is looking to switch to a single-type fleet, featuring up to 80 A220s, by 2022.
Source: Cirium Dashboard
