airBaltic to recruit pilots, cabin crew again as travel demand improves

Latvian airline airBaltic is planning to hire a total of 300 pilots and cabin crew by summer 2022 against a backdrop of growing travel demand.

The carrier expects to recruit 120 pilots and 200 cabin crew, it said on September 21, 2021. The pilots will primarily be former airBaltic crew members that the airline let go during the pandemic, as well as graduates from its flight training school. 

“In line with an increasing vaccination coverage worldwide and eased travel restrictions, we are ready to scale our flight operations again,” Chief Executive Martin Gauss said in a statement. “That is why we have come to a decision to rehire our former employees and add new team members to our crew for the next summer season.”

Gauss added that the recruitment plans tie in with the expected deliveries of eight Airbus A220-300 aircraft in 2022, which will take its all A220 fleet to 40 aircraft. 

“By hiring additional flight crew now, we will continue our preparations for performing flights with a fleet of 40 aircraft which we expect to have by the end of 2022,” Gauss said.

airBaltic said it currently employs 1,366 people, including 200 pilots and 342 cabin crew.