Business · Companies · 7 hrs ago
Swiss to end Air Baltic partnership as it uses more of its own planes
Swiss plans to end its cooperation with Air Baltic in April 2027 when the winter flight schedule ends.
The Swiss airline says it will use more of its own aircraft and crews, including Airbus A320s it plans to operate again.
It expects to lease about 18 aircraft with crews from other airlines, down from 26 now.
Swiss says improving engine availability and staffing mean more of its European fleet can return to service.
The change also reduces its reliance on partner airlines, with Helvetic Airways set to become its main partner.
Some Swiss customers had criticized Air Baltic crews over German-language skills and a lack of a Swiss feel.
Swiss says the shift will mean up to eight fewer leased aircraft next summer than the previous year.
Swiss will end its wet-lease partnership with Air Baltic as it plans to operate more flights with its own aircraft.
The change is due at the end of March 2027, or in April when the winter 2026/27 flight schedule ends, according to the two reports.
Swiss said it expects to rent about 18 aircraft and crews from other airlines, down from 26.
It plans to use more of its own Airbus A320s and work mainly with Helvetic Airways, while also using aircraft from Edelweiss.
Swiss said aircraft-engine availability and staffing have improved, allowing it to operate more flights itself.
- Who
- Swiss and Latvian airline Air Baltic.
- What
- Swiss will end its wet-lease partnership with Air Baltic and use more of its own aircraft and other partners’ planes.
- When
- At the end of March 2027, according to 20 Minuten; Watson says the partnership ends in April, with the end of the 2026/27 winter flight schedule.
- Where
- On flights operated in the name of Swiss.
- Why
- Swiss says it wants to operate more flights with its own aircraft and crews as engine availability and staffing improve.
Swiss
Critics of Air Baltic’s role
Aircraft and crews
Swiss
Swiss said wet-leased flights were preferable to cancelling flights, and that it needed them when aircraft or pilots were unavailable.
Critics of Air Baltic’s role
Critics objected to Air Baltic crews operating Swiss routes, citing lower wages, a lack of German-language skills and a lack of a Swiss feel.
Air Baltic began flying for Swiss.
Swiss finance chief Dennis Weber said he could not yet say whether Air Baltic would continue flying for Swiss.
Swiss announced that its partnership with Air Baltic would end.
The reports give different timings for the end of the partnership: 20 Minuten says the end of March, while Watson says April, at the close of the winter schedule.
- Current wet-lease aircraft
- 26
- Future wet-lease aircraft
- About 18
- Partnership end
- End of March 2027, according to 20 Minuten; April, according to Watson
- Main future partner
- Helvetic Airways
- Air Baltic service for Swiss began
- 2022
2 sources
What people are saying
We set ourselves the goal of flying more ourselves. And that is exactly what we are now doing.
as much as possible ourselves
Wetlease is the lesser evil than not flying at all.
We are being replaced by cheap labour.