As announced on 17 October, the Serbian national carrier Air Serbia and the Latvian national airline airBaltic have signed a new two-year lease agreement, according to which the Latvian airline will operate flights with Airbus A220-300 aircraft on behalf of Air Serbia from November 1 this year.
The agreement has been signed for a "wet lease" or "ACMI", which means that not only the aircraft, but also the crew are part of the package. Under the agreement, airBaltic will provide aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance for flights operated on behalf of Air Serbia.
The press release read as,
Today, Air Serbia and airBaltic announce the expansion of their existing cooperation with the signing of a two-year wet lease agreement. Starting from 1 November 2025, airBaltic will operate flights on behalf of Air Serbia using modern Airbus A220-300 aircraft with a capacity of 148 seats.
By introducing airBaltic and next-generation aircraft into its own operations, Air Serbia is further enhancing the passenger experience and continuing the process of strengthening and expanding its route network.
During the upcoming winter season, two airBaltic aircraft will be engaged in Air Serbia’s operations, while as many as four aircraft will be in service during the 2026 summer season.
This deal expands the cooperation between the airlines so far, and the next generation of A220 aircraft will fly in the Air Serbia network for the first time.
Two A220-300 aircraft will be used in the 2025-2026 winter season, while four aircraft are expected to be used in the summer 2026 schedule. Each aircraft is equipped with 148 seats.
Despite the fact that the situation with the engines used in the "A220-300" fleet is improving, however, the problem has not disappeared. RIX Riga Airport still has several aircraft that have been withdrawn from operation due to engine problems.
The French carrier Air Austral has announced that it will cease operating its entire fleet of Airbus 220-300 due to persistent problems with the Pratt & Whitney GTF engines.
The carrier now plans to use its fleet of three A220-300s by the summer of next year, hoping to expect an improvement in the situation from Airbus. According to the airline, at least two of the three planes have had engine problems this year.
Air Serbia CEO Jiri Marek said in a statement that the agreement would provide the airline with "an important contribution to future decisions on the composition of Air Serbia's fleet."
The airlines say the wet lease agreement will allow Air Serbia to improve the passenger experience while strengthening its route network across Europe. The A220, made by Airbus for short and medium-haul routes, is known for its fuel efficiency and quieter cabin compared to older generation aircraft.
Thomas Ramdahl, airBaltic’s Chief Commercial Officer :
“With Air Serbia, we have maintained a long-standing cooperation for more than ten years, ensuring good connectivity between the Baltic region and the Balkans. Expanding this cooperation through the ACMI agreement supports efficient fleet use and reliable operations for both airlines. The ACMI model enables airBaltic to provide flexible capacity to partner airlines across Europe while maintaining consistent product quality and operational reliability with our modern Airbus A220-300 fleet and experienced crews”
