The Latvian national airline airBaltic is proud to announce that so far overall 10 graduates from the airBaltic Pilot Academy have joined the academy’s team as theoretical and flight instructors, thereby significantly enhancing its educational personnel. This development mean that 10% of the academy’s alumni, who joined the airline as First Officers, have also assumed roles within the academy, thus enriching the study program with their expertise.
The new instructors embody the diversity of the Baltic region – all 10 professionals represent Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia.
Pauls Cālītis, Chief Operations Officer of airBaltic: “Within the dynamic world of aviation, success hinges on exceptional training. airBaltic has always prioritized this, as evidenced by our Pilot Academy‘s role in shaping skilled professionals. With over 120 students currently advancing their careers with us, it is rewarding to see our graduates return as instructors, sharing their knowledge and fostering the next generation’s growth. This cycle of learning and teaching underlines our commitment to excellence and the sustainable development of the aviation industry.”
Kaspars Paršinovs, First Officer and Theoretical Knowledge Instructor: “Time flies, perhaps even faster than aircraft. At the end of 2021, I graduated from the airBaltic Pilot Academy and joined the company as a First Officer to fly the impressive Airbus A220-300. This year, I returned to the academy, but in a new role as an instructor. It’s an exciting transition, especially since I still recall the excitement and challenges of pilot training. The academy was more than a school to me; it was a home and a source of lifelong friendships. A poster we gifted to the academy encapsulates a message I hold dear: “There is no victory without a fight.” This sentiment resonates not just with aspiring pilots but with anyone embarking on a challenging journey.”
There are 123 active students at the airBaltic Pilot Academy at the moment. Most of them are from Baltic countries, however, there are students also from other EU countries such as Finland, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain among others. Overall, more than 10% of airBaltic Pilot Academy students are female. As for now, 95 students, after graduating, have joined airBaltic.
More information about the Pilot Academy: www.pilotacademy.com.
airBaltic in brief:
airBaltic (Air Baltic Corporation AS) is a joint stock company that was established in 1995. Its primary shareholder is the Latvian state, which holds 97.97% of the stock, while the rest of the shareholders hold 2.03%. airBaltic offers connections to more than 70 destinations in Europe, the Middle East, North Africa and the Caucasus region. Over the last 28 years, airBaltic has developed as a strong and internationally respected airline, which employs more than 2 500 employees. The airBaltic fleet consists of 47 Airbus A220-300 aircraft, making it one of the youngest fleets in Europe. The airline has received several international awards for excellence, innovative services and significant achievements. Skytrax has awarded airBaltic two years in a row as the best airline in its region. Additionally, in 2022, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) awarded airBaltic the Diversity and Inclusion Team Award. In 2023 the airline received the APEX Passenger Choice Award of Best Cabin Service in Europe.
airBalticTraining, 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 – pilots, cabin crew members, aircraft maintenance workers, ground handlers, cargo agents, security personnel, and others.
