airBaltic plans to make approximately 100 pilots and 200 cabin-crew members redundant as it adjusts staffing to its planned 2027 flight schedule and route network. The provisional figures could change after employee assessments are completed. Pilot reductions will affect the airline’s Riga, Vilnius and Tallinn bases, while cabin-crew cuts are concentrated in Riga, where airBaltic has more staff than required.
Riga-based cabin crew may be offered positions in Vilnius or Tallinn where vacancies are available. Employees were expected to begin receiving information on whether they would remain with the airline from 31 October 2026.
The planned cuts form part of a broader workforce adjustment. airBaltic had previously estimated that 500 to 700 roles across its three bases could be affected; the current estimate of about 300 applies to pilots and cabin crew.
The selection process has drawn objections from the Latvian Aviation Trade Union, which questioned the criteria and said it had not received them in writing. airBaltic maintains that the criteria were developed through consultations with unions and use existing staff assessment systems, taking account of length of service, qualifications and job performance.