Latvian national airline airBaltic has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in New York as it seeks to reorganize its debts. The airline has secured a commitment for €350 million in financing, pending court approval, and insists that all flights, bookings, and customer services will continue to operate as scheduled.
AirBaltic operates direct services from London Gatwick to Riga and a seasonal route from Aberdeen to Riga, serving approximately 4,144 passengers weekly. No cancellations for these UK routes have been announced.
Experts are advising British travelers not to cancel their existing bookings, as doing so could waive stronger passenger rights that would apply if the airline were to cancel flights later. Voluntary cancellations are typically subject to the ticket's fare conditions, whereas a flight cancellation by the airline can trigger rights for reimbursement or rerouting, along with necessary care.
Anton Radchenko, aviation expert and CEO of AirAdvisor, stated that Chapter 11 is designed to allow a company to continue operating during restructuring. He advised passengers to understand their booking protections, noting that direct flights are not usually Atol protected, airline failure insurance is not standard, and fallback options may include credit card chargebacks or existing travel insurance.
Flights departing the UK are covered by UK261 regulations, and those from Riga to the UK are protected under EU passenger rights rules. Passengers whose flights are cancelled by airBaltic while it continues to operate should seek a refund or rerouting and applicable care. Compensation may also apply depending on the notice and reason for cancellation.
The airline plans to reduce its fleet from 54 to 36 aircraft by the end of 2026. CEO Erno Hilden indicated that workforce reductions are under consideration and that the most significant operational changes are expected within the wet-lease business, with no current expectation of interruption to scheduled passenger services.