AirBaltic has announced it has established a brand-new maintenance training organisation in Latvia that will provide training and certification for aircraft technicians.

The organisation will be part of the airBaltic training centre. The Latvian airline announced recently it is planning to build a new aircraft hangar at Riga Airport by the end of 2023 in order to reduce future maintenance costs and become more efficient.

Pauls Cālītis, COO of airBaltic: “Over the years, we have done a lot in order to prepare the future aviation professionals in Latvia. In addition to the airBaltic Pilot Academy, we have regularly cooperated with local technical schools in order to help them offering their students the most relevant education in aviation industry.

“Today, we are taking the next step and are open to technicians of various background joining the course. We will now train airBaltic technicians for work on the Airbus A220 ourselves and look forward to training technicians also from other airlines.”

The airline’s maintenance training organisation will be divided in two categories, providing basic training for professionals without previous aviation experience and aircraft type-related training focusing on the Airbus A220.

According to the airline, the first two groups of students will begin familiarisation training in early February. Each of the initial groups will have around eight students each, with experienced airBaltic technicians appointed as programme instructors.

The carrier says it is one of the most punctual airlines in the world, connecting the Baltic region with over 65 destinations in Europe, the Middle East and the CIS. airBaltic is a joint stock company that was established in 1995.