Swiss to end Air Baltic partnership by 2027

Swiss International Air Lines has announced it will terminate its cooperation with Air Baltic following the conclusion of the 2026-2027 winter flight program. The decision is part of a broader strategy by the Lufthansa subsidiary to reduce its reliance on external aircraft and crews, known as wetlease agreements.

Starting in the summer of 2027, Swiss plans to operate approximately 18 wetleased aircraft, a reduction from the current 26. To achieve this, the airline will reintegrate several of its own Airbus A320 aircraft into service. The company noted that previous challenges, including difficulties in securing Pratt & Whitney engines and limited technical crew resources, are gradually improving.

Moving forward, Swiss intends to focus its external cooperation on its strategic partner, Helvetic Airways. CEO Jens Fehlinger stated that the goal is to ensure more flights are operated using the airline’s own resources, provided that adequate operational conditions and crew staffing are met.