{"id":262556,"date":"2025-05-29T12:29:05","date_gmt":"2025-05-29T12:29:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peraltafinancing.com\/aerospace\/airbaltic-interim-ceo-pauls-calitis-on-life-post-gauss\/"},"modified":"2025-05-29T12:29:05","modified_gmt":"2025-05-29T12:29:05","slug":"airbaltic-interim-ceo-pauls-calitis-on-life-post-gauss","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=262556","title":{"rendered":"airBaltic interim CEO Pauls C\u0101l\u012btis on life post-Gauss"},"content":{"rendered":"


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In April 2025, following the departure of airBaltic CEO, Martin Gauss, the airline\u2019s COO Pauls C\u0101l\u012btis was announced as interim chief executive, tasked with steadying the ship after his predecessor lost the confidence of the company\u2019s majority shareholder, the Latvian government.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI leave after 13 intense years, proud of what we built: a resilient airline, a loyal team, and a bold vision. I gave everything \u2014 and I would do it again. Thank you to those who stood by me. The mission continues, even if the seat changes,\u201d wrote Gauss after leaving.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The departure of Gauss<\/a> after 13 years at the helm of the Baltic carrier put C\u0101l\u012btis in the unique position of leading an airline for a temporary period.\u00a0<\/p>\n

airBaltic<\/a> are searching for a CEO with an \u201cinternational perspective\u201d and have so far received more than 40 applications from nearly 30 countries, according to Baltic News Network<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The process of whitling down the candidates to confirm a new CEO is expected to take a further three months.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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As of today, April 7, 2025, Pauls C\u0101l\u012btis, current Management Board Member and Chief Operations Officer, assumes the duties of Interim Chief Executive Officer. Vitolds Jakov\u013cevs will continue in his role as Management Board Member and Chief Financial Officer.<\/p>\n

Interim CEO Pauls\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/wopCiuu232<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 airBaltic (@airBaltic) April 7, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

AeroTime spoke with C\u0101l\u012btis on May 28, 2025, to learn more about the transition process of taking over and airBaltic\u2019s current status and the airline\u2019s plans for the near future.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

C\u0101l\u012btis joined airBaltic 30 years ago and was among the first group of pilots recruited when operations began. As COO C\u0101l\u012btis was well placed to ensure the departure of his predecessor was as seamless as possible.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI have been involved in both the development of our strategy that we\u2019re currently pursuing, and I\u2019ve also been responsible for execution of that strategy. So that puts me well placed from the get-go. I know what we need to do and how we\u2019re going to do it,\u201d said C\u0101l\u012btis\u00a0<\/p>\n

C\u0101l\u012btis said that his immediate focus after becoming interim CEO was ensuring that the leadership team was aligned and to reach out and connect with the carrier\u2019s 2,800 employees.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Secondly, C\u0101l\u012btis said it was important to communicate with external stakeholders and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), including Airbus, to make sure the airline was ready for the busy summer season ahead.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Commenting on the departure of Gauss, C\u0101l\u012btis said that any company would be affected by the departure of someone that had played such a \u201cpivotal role\u201d and been the face of the airline both externally and internally.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Martin
Martin Gauss (airBaltic)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

C\u0101l\u012btis said there was an \u201cemotional effect\u201d but operationally the airline showed resilience and as \u201cwe would expect from professionals, we also received a professional outcome\u201d.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cObviously, with any management change, there will be some work, and it gives some opportunity to do some internal reflection, and also possibility to make changes, but the fundamental strategy and core values remain,\u201d C\u0101l\u012btis told AeroTime.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Lufthansa collaboration <\/h2>\n

C\u0101l\u012btis took time to praise the airline\u2019s three-year agreement with Lufthansa to flexibly place some of its Airbus A220-300s with its German partner.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re in the first year of that execution of this new agreement, and we have had 19 aircraft placed with them since the end of March. And this is, this is also very critical, complicated, but something that we also execute, I think, at a very high level,\u201d said C\u0101l\u012btis.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Reflecting on the progress of Lufthansa becoming a 10% minority shareholder in airBaltic, C\u0101l\u012btis said that the airline is still waiting for the sign off from the German anti-competition authority which is expected in the coming months.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

C\u0101l\u012btis confirmed that its Initial Public Offering (IPO) is currently \u201cpaused\u201d due to volatility in international money markets established in April 2025 that have since \u201ccalmed down considerably\u201d. The airline also wants to conclude its search for a new CEO.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cOnce those two things are in place. There are a lot of ifs and scenarios and possibilities but there is a path for an IPO later this year, and there are obviously new windows also in 2026. So currently, we\u2019re not closing any doors. It won\u2019t be sooner than fall of this year,\u201d said C\u0101l\u012btis.\u00a0<\/p>\n

New Airbus A220-300s<\/h2>\n

In a key milestone, airBaltic welcomed its 50th<\/sup> A220-300 earlier this year, and C\u0101l\u012btis said while the 51st<\/sup> Airbus arrival is yet to be finalized, it is due to join the fleet before the end of 2025. By mid-2026 the airline expects its fleet of A220-300s to increase to around 55 to 57 aircraft.\u00a0<\/p>\n

C\u0101l\u012btis described issues with unexpected delays and prolonged engine maintenance by its supplier Pratt & Whitney as \u201cfrustrating\u201d and one of airBaltic\u2019s most \u201csignificant headwinds\u201d over the last few years.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In January 2025, airBaltic announced it would cancel 4,670 flights from all its bases for the summer season due to engine shortages, but C\u0101l\u012btis thinks things are now improving.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThe metrics and the different indicators that we have are starting to show that we\u2019re turning the page or getting more stability, and we\u2019re seeing signs of improvement,\u201d said the interim CEO.\u00a0<\/p>\n

According to C\u0101l\u012btis \u201cdepending on the day\u201d the airline has eight or nine aircraft out of service because of engine issues.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWe want to be in a better place in 2026, and hopefully a significantly better place. And I would want to be in 2027 in a fully normalized scenario,\u201d added C\u0101l\u012btis.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The carrier is currently working on its winter schedule, and while it is already operating more flights this year than last year, the arrival of new aircraft in 2025 will see even more new destinations added.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Future fleet 100 aircraft strong<\/h2>\n

Looking five years ahead, C\u0101l\u012btis expects airBaltic to be in the region of flying 100 aircraft with a continuing focus on serving the Baltic region.\u00a0<\/p>\n

He also sees the airline\u2019s relationship with Lufthansa developing and is confident the lease agreement will be extended. He also believes other markets could be available.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI would expect that we as an ACMI [Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, and Insurance] we would be well known, not just in Europe, but we would be also outside of Europe, as a part of our business. I think we\u2019re well placed for that, utilize the fleet efficiently. There are other markets that are underserved at different parts of the year,\u201d explained C\u0101l\u012btis.\u00a0<\/p>\n