This week, 17 students graduated from the Pilot Academy of the Latvian national airline airBaltic, receiving a commercial pilot license upon completion of the full-time Airline Transport Pilot program.
Jānis Krištops, Interim Senior Vice President Flight Operations at airBaltic: “We are proud to congratulate the latest graduates of the Pilot Academy. Their achievement is the result of hard work, perseverance, and a clear ambition to grow in aviation. As they move forward to the next stage of their professional development, many are also taking important steps toward a future career with airBaltic. Strong airlines are built by capable people, and we will continue investing in the skills and talent that aviation needs for the years ahead.”
The graduates represent several countries, such as Czechia, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, and Latvia.
There are currently 151 active students at the airBaltic Pilot Academy. Most of them are from the Baltic countries, while other come from various other EU countries, including Denmark, Germany, France, Finland, Spain and Italy, among others. Overall, women account for more than 10% of airBaltic Pilot Academy students.
Over the years, 183 graduates of the airBaltic Pilot Academy have joined the airline, with most now flying as First Officers and several also serving as training instructors. A number of alumni have also successfully completed their Captain upgrade, becoming among the first Pilot Academy graduates to serve as Captains at airBaltic. This achievement highlights the strength of the programme and the clear career path it offers – from cadet to Captain.
The academy offers a unique cadet sponsorship programme, under which airBaltic provides financing in the form of a loan for the remaining studies after a student has successfully passed the airline’s pilot assessment and become an employee of the company.
More information about the Pilot Academy: www.pilotacademy.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 55 Airbus A220-300 aircraft, and employs more than 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.
