As the recurrent training season begins, Latvian airline airBaltic highlights its comprehensive crew training programme. Each year, more than one thousand pilots and cabin crew complete recurrent training at the airBaltic Training centre in Riga, Latvia, to ensure the highest safety standards. During the four-day training, crew members refresh their knowledge of safety equipment, emergency procedures, first aid, firefighting, dangerous goods, crew resource management, and cabin service. This structured training helps maintain strong, long-term proficiency across all critical areas.
Diāna Marta Ruka, Senior Cabin Crew and Ground Instructor Manager at airBaltic: “Our recurrent training program is more than a regulatory requirement – it reflects airBaltic’s culture of safety and continuous professional development. The recurrent training focuses on revising normal daily operations and places emphasis on emergency procedures to ensure that crews are ready for any situation that may arise. By combining hands-on exercises with scenario-based learning, we ensure that our crew not only maintains technical proficiency but also strengthens teamwork, decision-making, and readiness for any situation. This investment in our people ultimately enhances the overall safety and confidence of every passenger we carry.”
During their recurrent training at the airBaltic Training centre, crew members begin by completing a pre-assessment test to evaluate their existing knowledge, followed by theoretical and interactive self-study of the airline’s educational materials. The program then moves into practical training, hands-on sessions where crew members refresh their understanding of the aircraft’s safety equipment, practice various self-defense and passenger protection techniques, rehearse emergency procedures, and practice firefighting techniques and other safety-critical procedures. These realistic, scenario-based exercises allow them to experience how non-standard situations might unfold in real life and strengthen their readiness to respond effectively.
The training also includes a comprehensive course in crew resource management focusing on different types of human error, reinforcing teamwork and communication in dynamic operational environments. Cabin crew update and deepen their knowledge and receive first aid training to ensure they can respond quickly if passengers become unwell on board, further strengthening their practical skills and readiness. In addition, participants review a wide range of airline procedures performed both on the ground and in the air to ensure safe and reliable operations.
Cabin crew members also refine their knowledge of airBaltic’s inflight service standards through interactive exercises designed to enhance the passenger experience and maintain exceptional service quality. Throughout the entire program, all crew members are trained and evaluated by the airline’s certified instructors – experienced airBaltic pilots and cabin crew who provide expert guidance and support.
A video of airBaltic’s crew recurrent training programme at its training center is available here: https://youtu.be/lPBaoEAtnH4
The airline is currently hiring First Officers, Senior First Officers, Captains, and Cabin Crew for its bases in Riga, Tallinn, and Vilnius. More information about available vacancies can be found on the company’s careers page: https://careers.airbaltic.com/en.
Over the past 30 years, airBaltic has evolved into a globally respected carrier. Now the airline is connecting the Baltic States to 80 destinations across Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, and the Caucasus region, providing essential infrastructure and global connectivity for the region. A complete schedule of airBaltic flights and tickets are available on the company’s homepage at www.airbaltic.com.
About airBaltic:
airBaltic (Air Baltic Corporation AS) is the leading airline in the Baltics and one of Europe’s fastest-growing carriers. As a hybrid airline, it leverages the upsides of both traditional network and low-cost carriers. Founded in 1995, today airBaltic operates one of Europe’s youngest fleets, consisting of 50 Airbus A220-300 aircraft, and employs nearly 3 000 people. In 2025, airBaltic became the first European airline to offer free high-speed SpaceX Starlink internet on its flights.
The company is majority-owned by the Latvian state, holding 88.37% of the voting rights, while Deutsche Lufthansa AG holds 10%, and the remaining 1.63% are held by other private shareholders.
airBaltic’s commitment to excellence is recognized by numerous prestigious awards, including being named the Best Airline in its region by Skytrax for three consecutive years. In 2025, airBaltic made its debut in the global rankings compiled by Airline Ratings, which recognized it among the world’s 50 safest and overall best airlines, as well as one of the leading global airlines in sustainability and among the most preferred airlines in Europe and the UK. The same year, APEX awarded the company the Five Star Major Airline Award for its commitment to providing a high-quality travel experience and before that – the Passenger Choice Award for Best Cabin Service in Europe. In 2024, the airline was awarded the PROS AI Innovator Award for leveraging AI to drive transformative outcomes and optimize operations.
airBaltic Training, a subsidiary of airBaltic, is a training facility offering a wide range of aviation training services in its modern and purpose-built training centre in Riga, Latvia. It was established in 2010 and since then each year provides training to approximately 3 000 professionals from across the world – more than 1 500 pilots, almost 1 000 cabin crew members and several hundred of ground handlers, cargo agents, security personnel and others.
