Air Serbia and airBaltic Expand Airbus A220 Partnership for Growth

Air Serbia and airBaltic Deepen Ties with Strategic A220 Partnership

In the dynamic world of European aviation, partnerships are crucial for growth, efficiency, and modernization. A prime example of this is the evolving relationship between Air Serbia, the flag carrier of Serbia, and airBaltic, its Latvian counterpart. What began over a decade ago as a straightforward codeshare agreement has now blossomed into a significant strategic alliance. This new chapter is marked by a comprehensive two-year wet-lease agreement, signaling a deeper integration of their operational strategies and a shared vision for the future of regional air travel.

This expanded cooperation is more than a simple capacity-sharing deal; it represents a pivotal moment for both airlines. For Air Serbia, it offers a low-risk, high-reward opportunity to test and evaluate one of the most modern and efficient narrow-body aircraft on the market, the Airbus A220-300. For airBaltic, it solidifies its position as a leading ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, and Insurance) provider in Europe, leveraging its expertise and all-A220 fleet to support other carriers. This agreement, therefore, sets the stage for significant operational enhancements and provides a blueprint for future fleet decisions, ultimately benefiting passengers with an improved travel experience.

Dissecting the Expanded Cooperation

The cornerstone of this enhanced partnership is a two-year ACMI wet-lease agreement, which officially commenced on November 1, 2025. This model is a comprehensive solution where one airline (airBaltic) provides the aircraft, crew, maintenance, and insurance to another airline (Air Serbia), which then operates the flights under its own brand and flight numbers. This arrangement allows Air Serbia to quickly and efficiently expand its operational capacity without the immediate capital expenditure and logistical complexities associated with purchasing new aircraft and training crews.

The agreement is structured to scale with seasonal demand. During the winter 2025 season, two of airBaltic’s Airbus A220-300 aircraft will operate on behalf of Air Serbia. This number is set to double to four aircraft for the busier summer 2026 season, demonstrating a clear commitment to a long-term, flexible partnership. The initial phase will see these modern jets deployed on 19 of Air Serbia’s routes from its Belgrade hub, serving key European destinations such as Paris, Amsterdam, London, Zurich, and Madrid. The very first flight under this new arrangement was scheduled from Belgrade to Zurich, marking the official start of a new era of collaboration.

It is noteworthy that airBaltic secured this contract in a competitive environment, reportedly chosen over fourteen other European airlines. This underscores the strength of their offer and the quality of their all-A220 operational model. As a specific operational detail, it has been clarified by airBaltic that its aircraft and crews will not be utilized on Air Serbia’s routes to Russia, ensuring compliance with international aviation regulations and sanctions.

The Airbus A220-300: A Game-Changer for Passengers and Operations

The centerpiece of this agreement is the Airbus A220-300. With a seating capacity of 148, this aircraft is renowned for its superior operational efficiency and passenger-centric design. For travelers on Air Serbia flights, the introduction of the A220 represents a significant upgrade in comfort. The aircraft features a modern cabin with wider seats, larger windows that allow for more natural light, and more spacious overhead luggage bins. These elements combine to create a more pleasant and comfortable in-flight experience compared to older-generation narrow-body jets.

Beyond passenger comfort, the A220-300 delivers substantial environmental and operational benefits. It is recognized for its exceptional fuel efficiency, consuming significantly less fuel per seat than previous-generation aircraft. This efficiency not only reduces operational costs but also lowers carbon emissions. Furthermore, the A220 boasts a considerably smaller noise footprint, making it a more welcome neighbor at airports and contributing to a quieter cabin environment for passengers. These characteristics align with the broader aviation industry’s goals of achieving more sustainable operations.

“This partnership is of particular importance for Air Serbia, as on our flights, passengers will have the opportunity to travel comfortably and quickly to their destinations aboard modern Airbus A220-300 aircraft… This type of aircraft will be an important model and reference point for future decisions regarding the composition of Air Serbia’s fleet.” , Jiří Marek, CEO of Air Serbia

A Strategic Win-Win for Both Carriers

This partnership is a masterclass in strategic alignment, offering distinct and complementary advantages to both Air Serbia and airBaltic. It moves far beyond a simple transactional lease, creating a symbiotic relationship that strengthens each airline’s respective market position and long-term strategy. The collaboration is built on a foundation of over a decade of cooperation, evolving from a simple codeshare to a deeply integrated operational alliance.

Air Serbia: A Live Testbed for Fleet Modernization

For Air Serbia, this agreement serves as a crucial “live evaluation platform.” The airline’s current narrow-body fleet is primarily composed of Airbus A319 and A320 family aircraft. While reliable, the carrier has been actively exploring options for fleet renewal. The two-year wet-lease provides an invaluable opportunity to introduce the A220-300 into its network and gather real-world data on its performance, fuel consumption, maintenance reliability, and, critically, passenger feedback. This hands-on experience will allow Air Serbia’s management to make a well-informed, data-driven decision about its future long-term fleet composition without the immediate financial burden of a multi-billion dollar aircraft order. It is a prudent, strategic step toward modernization.

airBaltic: Cementing Leadership in ACMI Services

For airBaltic, this deal reinforces its successful business strategy centered around the Airbus A220-300. As the global launch customer and the world’s largest operator of the type, airBaltic possesses unparalleled expertise in flying and maintaining this specific aircraft. Since transitioning to an all-A220 fleet in 2020, the airline has honed its operations to maximize efficiency. The ACMI model allows airBaltic to leverage this expertise, ensuring high utilization rates for its growing fleet,which it plans to expand from 50 to 100 aircraft by 2030. Providing wet-lease services to partners like Air Serbia creates a stable and predictable revenue stream, complementing its own scheduled passenger services and de-risking its ambitious expansion plans.

“Expanding this cooperation through the ACMI agreement supports efficient fleet use and reliable operations for both airlines. The ACMI model enables airBaltic to provide flexible capacity to partner airlines across Europe while maintaining consistent product quality and operational reliability with our modern Airbus A220-300 fleet and experienced crews.” , Thomas Ramdahl, Chief Commercial Officer at airBaltic

Conclusion: A Partnership Shaping Regional Aviation

The expanded agreement between Air Serbia and airBaltic is a forward-thinking move that highlights a growing trend of deeper, more strategic partnerships in the European airline industry. It transcends a standard lease arrangement, creating a mutually beneficial platform for growth, evaluation, and operational excellence. Air Serbia gains a modern, efficient aircraft to enhance its passenger experience and inform its future fleet strategy, while airBaltic capitalizes on its A220 expertise to strengthen its position as a premier ACMI provider.

Looking ahead, this collaboration could serve as a model for other regional carriers. It demonstrates how airlines can leverage each other’s strengths to navigate the complexities of fleet modernization, seasonal demand, and operational efficiency. For passengers in the Balkan and Baltic regions, this partnership translates directly into a better travel experience, with access to one of the most comfortable and sustainable aircraft in its class. The success of this two-year venture will undoubtedly be watched closely by the industry and will play a crucial role in shaping the future fleets and operational models of both Air Serbia and airBaltic.

FAQ

Question: What is an ACMI wet-lease agreement?
Answer: An ACMI agreement stands for Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, and Insurance. It is a type of leasing arrangement where the leasing airline (in this case, airBaltic) provides the aircraft, the flight and cabin crew, all necessary maintenance, and the insurance to the lessee airline (Air Serbia), which then operates the flight under its own brand.

Question: Which aircraft is being used in this partnership?
Answer: The agreement involves the use of modern and fuel-efficient Airbus A220-300 aircraft, each with a capacity of 148 seats. airBaltic is the world’s largest operator of this aircraft type.

Question: Why is this agreement important for Air Serbia’s future?
Answer: It allows Air Serbia to test the Airbus A220-300 in its own network without the immediate cost of purchasing the planes. This “live evaluation” will provide critical data on performance, costs, and passenger satisfaction to help the airline make a final decision on its future fleet modernization.

Question: How many aircraft are involved and for how long?
Answer: The agreement is for two years. It starts with two A220-300 aircraft during the winter 2025 season and will increase to four aircraft for the summer 2026 season.

Sources: Air Serbia