Source: Air Baltic
The Latvian national airline airBaltic and SUA Líneas Aéreas, a new Latin American startup airline, have entered a strategic partnership. As part of the agreement, airBaltic plans to wet lease up to five of its Airbus A220-300 aircraft to SUA starting October 2025, as well as to support SUA in such areas as operational set-up, pilot training, know-how sharing, IT and automation, and the airline’s sustainability initiatives.
Martin Gauss, President and CEO of airBaltic: “Collaborating with SUA Líneas Aéreasrepresents a unique opportunity to bring airBaltic’s expertise in operating the Airbus A220-300 to a new region. This partnership reflects our commitment to fostering innovation and improving air connectivity globally. We are looking forward to supporting SUA in their journey to strengthen regional connectivity and deliver exceptional service in Latin America.”
Antonio Rama, CEO of SUA Líneas Aéreas: “Through this alliance, we will benefit from airBaltic’s expertise in key areas such as fleet management, operational efficiency, and staff training, equipping us with the tools needed to develop a customer-focused operation. We are confident that their experience and support will be critical in this early phase of our development.”
SUA plans to launch operations by the fourth quarter of 2025, connecting key cities across Uruguay, Argentina, Brazil, and Chile. The initial routes will aim to reduce travel times and provide direct alternatives for regional passengers who currently face limited or inconvenient options.
airBaltic operates more than 130 routes from Riga, Tallinn, Vilnius, Tampere and, seasonally, Gran Canaria, offering connections to a wide range of destinations in the airline’s route network in Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, and the Caucasus region. A complete schedule of airBaltic flights and tickets are available on the company’s homepage at www.airbaltic.com.
airBaltic in brief:
airBaltic (Air Baltic Corporation AS) is the leading airline in the Baltics and one of Europe’s fastest-growing carriers. As a hybrid airline, it leverages the upsides of both traditional network and low-cost carriers. Through a network of more than 130 routes from Riga, Tallinn, Vilnius, Tampere and, seasonally, Gran Canaria, airBaltic connects the Baltics with over 70 destinations across Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, and the Caucasus. Founded in 1995, today airBaltic operates one of Europe’s youngest fleets, consisting of 49 Airbus A220-300 aircraft, and employs over 2 700 professionals. The company is majority-owned by the Latvian state, which holds a 97.97% stake, with the remaining 2.03% owned by private shareholders.
airBaltic’s commitment to excellence is recognized by numerous prestigious awards including the Best Airline in its region by Skytrax for three consecutive years. In 2022, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) recognized airBaltic with the Diversity and Inclusion Team Award. Furthermore, in 2023, APEX awarded the company the Passenger Choice Award for Best Cabin Service in Europe, and in 2024 airBaltic also received the APEX Four Star Major Airline Award, recognizing its commitment to providing a high-quality travel experience. In 2024, the airline was awarded the PROS AI Innovator Award for leveraging AI to drive transformative outcomes and optimize operations.
SUA Líneas Aéreas in brief:
Based in Montevideo, Uruguay, SUA Líneas Aéreas is a startup airline designed to transform air connectivity in Latin America. Operating a modern fleet of Airbus A220-300 aircraft, SUA combines efficiency, sustainability, and a strong focus on customer experience to set a new standard of service in the region.