The Latvian national airline airBaltic will participate in the Kaunas Aviation Festival 2025, taking place on July 26, this year. The event will be held at the Darius and S. Girėnas Airfield in Kaunas, Lithuania. As one of the most significant aviation celebrations in the country, the festival brings together aviation professionals, families, and aviation enthusiasts from across the region.
During the festival, visitors will have the opportunity to meet representatives of airBaltic and learn more about the company and its career opportunities. Meanwhile, the airBaltic Pilot Academy will provide information about its study programs and the possibility to apply. In addition, a Diamond DA40 NG training aircraft from the airBaltic Pilot Academy fleet will be showcased.
The summer months are traditionally a time of heightened interest in aviation education, particularly among recent high school graduates considering their next steps. Although applications to the airBaltic Pilot Academy are accepted throughout the year, and new study groups start four times annually, the number of applications typically doubles during summer.
There are 161 active students at the airBaltic Pilot Academy at the moment. Most of them are from the Baltic countries, however, there are students also from other EU countries such as Denmark, Germany, France, Finland, Spain and Italy among others. Overall, more than 10% of airBaltic Pilot Academy students are female.
Over the years, more than 130 graduates of the airBaltic Pilot Academy have joined the airline as full-time employees. Many now fly as First Officers, with several also advancing to instructor positions.
For many, the profession of a pilot might seem intimidating, due to the intensity of studies, the level of responsibility, and the relatively high tuition fees. However, airBaltic offers some of the most financially attractive conditions in the European Union, including a tuition fee loan covering a significant part of the studies, helping to remove one of the biggest obstacles for students. Students of the airBaltic Pilot Academy have to cover the costs of ATPL theory studies and 45 flight hours, at a cost of EUR 25 000. After passing airBaltic pilot assessment and becoming an employee of the company, the airline will provide financing (loan) for the rest of the studies.
Additional information about the Pilot Academy is available here: https://airbaltictraining.com.
The day-long festival will also feature spectacular performances by Jurgis Kairys, the Royal Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon, the Flying Bulls, and the Red Devils skydiving team, among others. Attendees will see a wide variety of aircraft both in the air and on static display – ranging from historic legends like the DC-3 and Bellanca CH-300 Pacemaker to modern aerobatic planes like the Extra 330SC and Xtremeair XA42. The event also includes military equipment exhibitions, concerts, creative workshops, family activities, and educational opportunities from regional aviation schools.
The Kaunas Aviation Festival is organised by Kaunas City Municipality and Kaunas Cultural Centre, offering an engaging and inspiring aviation experience for all generations.
airBaltic operates nearly 130 routes from Riga, Tallinn, Vilnius, Tampere, and, seasonally, Gran Canaria, offering connections to a wide range of destinations in the airline’s route network in Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, and the Caucasus 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. Through a network of nearly 130 routes from Riga, Tallinn, Vilnius, Tampere and, seasonally, Gran Canaria, airBaltic connects the Baltics with over 70 destinations across Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, and the Caucasus.
Founded in 1995, today airBaltic operates one of Europe’s youngest fleets, consisting of 50 Airbus A220-300 aircraft, and employs over 2 800 people. In February 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, which holds a 97.97% stake, with the remaining 2.03% owned by private shareholders. In January 2025, Lufthansa Group announced an investment in a minority stake in airBaltic, with the transaction expected to close in the second quarter of 2025.
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 2023, APEX awarded the company the Passenger Choice Award for Best Cabin Service in Europe, and in 2024, airBaltic received the APEX Four Star Major Airline Award for its commitment to providing a high-quality travel experience. The same year, the airline was awarded the PROS AI Innovator Award for leveraging AI to drive transformative outcomes and optimize operations. In 2025, airBaltic made its debut in the global rankings compiled by Airline Ratings, which recognized it among the world’s 50 safest airlines and included it in the list of the world’s top airlines for 2025.
