Latvian-based carrier airBaltic has celebrated the arrival of its 50th Airbus A220-300 aircraft, complete with its own special livery, during a ceremony at Riga Airport (RIX).
The event took place on February 13, 2025, with approximately 200 attendees, including company and airport employees, partners, media representatives, and officials from the Latvian government, along with Canada’s Ambassador to Latvia. Video footage showed the A220-300 making a low-pass landing in Riga.
A sight we’ll never forget! Our 50th @Airbus A220-300 touched down in @riga_airport with a stunning low-pass, and we couldn’t be prouder. Moments like these define our journey ✈️ Sveicam mājās Latvijā! pic.twitter.com/c375T3LPgc
— airBaltic (@airBaltic) February 13, 2025
“Eight years ago, we became the global launch operator of the Airbus A220-300 – an aircraft that has transformed our operations,” said Martin Gauss, President and CEO of airBaltic. “As we welcome our 50th Airbus A220-300, it marks a major milestone, completing our initial order and bringing us halfway toward our goal of a single-type fleet of 100 aircraft by 2030.”
This 50th aircraft showcases a bespoke artistic livery inspired by the Latvian flag, featuring unique design elements that represent all three Baltic States: Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania.
The artwork shows a young woman flying through the clouds, her long hair decorated with a traditional wreath as she carries the Latvian flag. The design also includes several symbolic elements reflecting the heritage of the Baltic region, including a ladybug, a swallow and a stork.
According to the airline, the painting of this A220-300 livery took 18 days to complete. A total of 21 colors were used to create the design, and for the first time ever, a stencil overlay technique was used to layer colors by the Airbus A220 paintshop teams in Mirabel, Canada.
“This aircraft, with its striking Baltic-themed livery, symbolizes our region’s ambition, connectivity, and the strength of our national carrier,” Kaspars Briškens, Minister of Transport of the Republic of Latvia, added.
The new A220-300 is set to join the airBaltic fleet later in February 2025. The airline stated that the A220 is the “latest state-of-the-art and most modern airliner in its size category”. The aircraft is capable of carrying between 100 to 150 passengers on flights of up to 3,600 nautical miles (6,700 kilometers).