Any news regarding how 90 pilots will be kicked out from airBaltic - according to Latvian Labor law (date of employment) or according to type rating of pilots?

And it gets worse. According to local media, yesterday they cancelled 11 flights, with no reason given. Tallinn airport manager tells, that nobody even answer the phones from BT side, and there is unconfirmed amount of unsettled debt between BTT and TLL.

Sad days, but we all hope for better ...

Bail out, while you still can...

That is easier said then done....

airBaltic announces widespread layoffs, cancels hundreds of flights

@Cptps

Looks like more people then only F50 drivers might keep there fingers crossed...

Ah well...at least you will have more time for your Playstation...unless you sold it?

So the press release states that company has filed for Legal Protection in order to over ride Government indecision. Anyone has an idea how likely this is to lead into company going into administration or if not, how long will the court keep this status in order for airBaltic to survive and get back fully in business.

airBaltic seeks legal protection | BNN-NEWS.COM

Since the plans of the government are not saving the company but starting a new one. I estimate the probability for survival of Airbaltic in his current form nihil. If the people leading the company don't want to lead it; it will be broken into pieces. Hopefully there will be something left over for all the employees at the end of the ride.

Difficult to tell who are the "good guys" (if any exist ? ) and who are the "bad guys" here.
On the face of it Herr Flick has done amazing things for airB, but has "possibly" done even more amazing things for himself (allegedly)

This is unlikely to have been without the knowledge & help of someone (or several) with influence (at the time) in Latvian politics, who are now discredited/ gone ?
The current rumours suggest tht the Latvian Govt are pretty fed up with the whole thing & are courting Finnair to set up another company (read Finncomm/Flybe by the back door) to effectively serve a HEL hub, much as the former shareholder SAS viewed airB as a feeder for its own hubs in CPH/ARN.
Govt is due to make a statement on Monday responding to BAS's offer to inject 50Million (LVL? = 70mil€) if matched by the Govt.
I think the Govt response, Yes/No/we will continue to delay&dither
will be the final statement on the future of the company in its current form.
For all my professional / resilient colleagues, I hope the response is a +ve one, but somehow, I have my doubts. There is a nasty whiff emenating from both the bunker in Berlin & the Saeima, not with two turds we construct a lovely wedding cake

The Prize Fight is on...let's get ready to ruuuuuuuuuumbleeeee

Latvia's airBaltic to Fly Another Day? - BUSINESS NEW EUROPE

Cola and popcorn ready!!!

i did write some time ago that all my buddies in the so called holding pool has found other jobs - didn't want to waste any more headache on this mickey mouse outfit

Seems like "pistols at dawn" has been resolved in favour of the 52% shareholder.
A pilot manager I spoke to is gravely concerned about the competence/aviation knowledge of whomever is slotted in to replace Flick. He wasn't Snow White, & he "may" have run off/hidden some of the family silverware , but he did also do a fairly good job for airB as well as himself.
If the next CEO is just a "Yes Man" who shares the stolen treasure with politicians to keep them quiet, difficult to imagine the company progressing too much. A senior pilot figure cautioned me that he could well foresee stagnation/regression with airB ending up as a little regional carrier with 4 737's & half a dozen Q 400's, akin to Estonian. Shame if it ends that way, a great opportunity will have been wasted in this case.

[quote*
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: East of the sun & west of the moon
Posts: 93
The Prize Fight is on...let's get ready to ruuuuuuuuuumbleeeee

Latvia's airBaltic to Fly Another Day? - BUSINESS NEW EUROPE

Cola and popcorn ready!!!
][/quote]

You sad little ****.

AirBaltic names Martin Gauss new CEO

Any insider that can comment on that and/or what the mood is like in Riga & surrounding?

Regards

DK

I've met Gauss, he's a regular guy, and I know people in Malev who thought he was the best CEO they ever had (and God knows they had enough to compare him with). He really battled with his Government stakeholderes to bring Malev into the real world but eventually succumbed to the inevitable. Will Air Baltic be any different?

Think that was planned before his involvement, but I am sure everyone was hoping that , following his appointment, the tide would turn, or at least be held back.
Just hope he has a viable business plan for the future, & for those still there, that the plan isn't simply get smaller to cut losses, that is neither imaginative nor forward thinking.

Any news on Air Baltic? Heard they are to be fully government owned now.
Were any pilots laid off the past few months? Are there no more F50's? How long before the 737's are replaced? Any recruitment likely?

regards
BT Pool swimmer

Short answer, ~70 pilots laid off, probably more to come, still few fokkers in service. So recruitment is very unlikely, as they would call back the ones they fired if things will change in the future.

It seems that there might be many opportunities for low experience pilots this spring in airBaltic. Many Q400 pilots are leaving due to different issues as well as a shortage of FO on 737 is also seen.
If you need some experience and you are able survive with demotivated atmosphere and many other unpleasant things - it might be a chance for your pilots' career start

Hey, it's not s o bad ? at least not as foreign contract pilot, I know your financial situation is less rosy on local contract.

The main problem for guys joining next Spring is not knowing if employment will continue beyond Oct. The last two Winters had a lot of uncertainty for junior ( & not so junior) pilots. For the 737 guys the problem is that I imagine airB will look for guys with either cash to pay rating + line tng, or will take guys rated but inexperienced so as to charge them for 300 hr line tng & then dump them on the market , with the other hundreds of guys /gals with minimum experience on type.
The excellent folk I flew with last year will almost certainly not be invited back, as the company can make money off someone else.
That is rather sad & shortsighted, but I cannot imagine them passing up a revenue source by taking the good guys back when new blood is enough + makes money.


BTW, what is the latest fleet-plan ? still minus 2x757 , maybe -4x 737 ? or any better news ?