airBaltic has asked a US bankruptcy court for permission to reject the leases on six Airbus A220-300s, a step towards reducing its fleet under a restructuring plan. The 30 October filing does not confirm that the aircraft have been returned. The aircraft, registered YL-CSI, YL-ABD, YL-ABE, YL-ABF, YL-BTC and YL-BTD, were reportedly at Riga Airport. A hearing was scheduled for 17 November.
The airline’s filing describes the aircraft as unnecessary under its revised operating plan and their lease terms as above prevailing market rates. Wilmington Trust SP Services (Dublin) Limited is named as lessor. The motion also seeks a simplified procedure for returning the aircraft if the court approves the lease rejections.
airBaltic plans to reduce its Airbus A220-300 fleet from 54 aircraft to 36 by the end of 2026, then gradually increase it to around 40 by 2031. The request concerning the six leases is a step in that planned reduction, but neither the court’s decision nor the aircraft’s eventual return was confirmed in the available reporting.