Air Serbia and airBaltic have signed a new two-year lease agreement that will see the Latvian carrier operate Airbus A220-300 aircraft on behalf of Air Serbia starting on November 1, 2025. The deal expands the airlines’ existing cooperation and brings the next-generation A220 into Air Serbia’s network for the first time.
Under the agreement, airBaltic will provide aircraft, crews, maintenance, and insurance for flights operated on behalf of Air Serbia. Two A220-300s will be used during the 2025-2026 winter season, with as many as four aircraft expected to operate during the 2026 summer schedule. Each aircraft is configured with 148 seats.
Announcing the deal on October 16, 2025, the airlines said the wet lease arrangement will allow Air Serbia to enhance its passenger experience while strengthening its route network across Europe. The A220, built by Airbus for short- and medium-haul routes, is known for its fuel efficiency and quieter cabin compared with older-generation aircraft.
“We are very pleased to continue developing our cooperation with airBaltic, one of the most innovative airlines in Europe and our long-time codeshare partner,” said Jiří Marek, Chief Executive Officer of Air Serbia. “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.”
Thomas Ramdahl, Chief Commercial Officer at airBaltic, said the agreement builds on a relationship that goes back a decade. “With Air Serbia, we have maintained a long-standing cooperation for more than 10 years, ensuring good connectivity between the Baltic region and the Balkans. Expanding this cooperation through the ACMI agreement supports efficient fleet use and reliable operations for both airlines.”
The wet lease model, in which the lessor supplies the aircraft, crew, maintenance, and insurance, allows airlines such as Air Serbia to add capacity quickly and flexibly during peak seasons without permanently expanding their own fleets.
Air Serbia is the flag carrier of the Republic of Serbia and operates from its main hub at Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport (BEG). The airline flies to more than 80 destinations across Europe, North America, and the Middle East. Its current fleet includes Airbus A319, A320, and A330 aircraft, as well as regional ATR 72 turboprops. Air Serbia is majority-owned by the Government of Serbia, with minority shareholder Etihad Airways retaining a small stake following its original investment in 2013.
Based in Riga, Latvia, airBaltic operates an all-Airbus A220-300 fleet of more than 50 aircraft. The airline serves routes across Europe, the Middle East, and the Commonwealth of Independent States. It has become one of the largest A220 operators globally and a leading provider of wet lease capacity in Europe, operating aircraft on behalf of several airlines.
The two carriers have maintained a codeshare agreement since 2013, allowing passengers to book connecting flights across each other’s networks. The new wet lease deal builds on that relationship and marks a deeper operational link between the Baltic and Balkan regions.
Both airlines described the expanded partnership as an opportunity to maintain schedule reliability and fleet flexibility while offering passengers more modern aircraft. Air Serbia said the experience gained with the A220 through airBaltic’s operations would help inform future fleet planning decisions as the airline evaluates its long-term growth strategy.
The agreement runs through the end of 2027.
