Introduction of airBaltic’s 50th Airbus A220-300
airBaltic, the Latvian airline, has recently celebrated a significant milestone by introducing a specially designed livery for its 50th Airbus A220-300. This event took place at Airbus’s Mirabel final assembly plant in Canada. The carrier launched a creative competition in November 2023, inviting the public, frequent flyers, artists, and designers to propose unique liveries. The aim was to find a design that would symbolize the spirit of the Baltic region on this landmark aircraft.
Details of the Design Competition and Selection Process
The competition garnered significant attention, attracting 840 entries. airBaltic’s Club loyalty program members, exceeding 28,000 in number, participated in the voting process. Out of numerous submissions, 21 designs were shortlisted. The top three designs were purchased by airBaltic, with the winning design securing over 30% of the votes among the finalists. The victorious designer was awarded a €3,000 gift certificate to use on airBaltic flights.
Features of the Winning Livery
The winning livery, which will grace airBaltic’s 50th Airbus A220-300, features an artistic portrayal that includes elements from all three Baltic States – Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania. The design incorporates the Latvian flag and showcases sweeping green and red lines along the fuselage, while the wingtips and engine cowlings feature the standard airBaltic green. An intricate depiction of a girl with flowing hair and a traditional wreath, symbols of Latvian heritage, dominates the visual theme. Additional elements like a ladybug, a swallow, and a stork, each symbolizing different facets of the Baltic environment, are also included.
The application of this complex design took 18 days to complete, utilizing a stencil overlay technique for the first time by Airbus’s A220 paintshop teams. This method allowed for precise application of the 21 different colors used in the livery.
Strategic Importance of the Airbus A220-300 to airBaltic
Since becoming the global launch operator of the Airbus A220-300 over eight years ago, airBaltic has integrated this aircraft type as the backbone of their fleet. The airline’s CEO, Martin Gauss, emphasized that this milestone aircraft not only commemorates the completion of their initial order but also marks significant progress towards airBaltic’s goal of operating a homogeneous fleet of 100 A220-300s by 2030.
As the largest European customer and operator of the A220-300, airBaltic continues to benefit from the aircraft’s efficiency and passenger-friendly features. Benoît Schultz, CEO of Airbus Canada, highlighted the A220’s role in connecting over 160 million passengers globally, underscoring its efficiency and comfort.
Future Prospects and Operational Capabilities
The special livery A220-300 joins other aircraft in airBaltic’s fleet that feature liveries inspired by the national flags of the Baltic States. Currently, the airline operates 49 active A220-300s, each with a capacity of 148 passengers in a single-class configuration. airBaltic’s extensive network includes over 130 routes from bases in Riga, Tallinn, Vilnius, Tampere, and seasonally from Gran Canaria, connecting the Baltic region to over 70 destinations across Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, and the Caucasus.