AirBaltic to cancel 4,670 flights for summer 2025 amid global engine maintenance challenges
January 2, 2025
Latvian low-cost carrier (LCC) airBaltic is cancelling 4,670 flights from its summer 2025 schedule in response to unexpected delays and prolonged engine maintenance issues from its engine supplier, Pratt & Whitney.
The cancellations follow the recent news that fellow LCC, Wizz Air is grounding up to 40 aircraft due to the same prolonged engine maintenance issues with Pratt & Whitney.
With several of its aircraft also grounded, an airBaltic statement read: “The engine manufacturer’s inability to meet its timely maintenance obligations has impacted the operational capabilities of airBaltic’s Airbus A220-300 fleet.”
The Latvian carrier is cancelling 19 routes and reducing frequencies on 21 others across its bases with the cancellation of the 4,670 flights in total expected to impact an estimated 67,190 passengers. Customers who think they might be affected are advised to check their reservations via the Manage My Booking section on the airline’s website.
The airline is working closely with Pratt & Whitney to resolve the maintenance delays with a spokesperson for airBaltic saying the airline has been “facing external factors beyond its control, including global supply chain issues and maintenance constraints.”
Adding that “minimising disruption and maintaining reliable service remain top priorities for airBaltic,” the spokesperson noted that the airline is fully committed to “supporting affected customers through rebooking options or full refunds as needed.”
Global MRO challenges
The news on airBaltic and Wizz Air comes after other airlines were forced to cancel operations at the end of 2023 due to MRO issues.
British Airways suspended flights to Abu Dhabi amid ongoing issues with its Boeing 787 Rolls Royce Trent 1000 engines and parts deliveries. Air New Zealand has also grounded four of its 14 Boeing 787-9s for issues related to their Trent engines.
