First graduate of airBaltic Pilot Academy becomes Captain

airBaltic celebrated an important milestone for both the company and its airBaltic Pilot Academy, as Kaspars Kasakovskis, the very first graduate of the academy, has successfully completed his Captain upgrade, becoming the first airBaltic Pilot Academy graduate to serve as a Captain at the airline. K. Kasakovskis joined the Pilot Academy in 2018 as part of the very first group of 12 cadets.

Pauls Cālītis, Interim CEO of airBaltic commented: “Kaspars’ achievement is an outstanding milestone not only for him personally, but also for airBaltic and our Pilot Academy as a whole. It demonstrates the strength of the training and the clear career path we have built – from cadet to Captain. We are very proud of Kaspars, whose journey reflects the dedication and spirit of our entire team. Every graduate of the Pilot Academy carries the future of airBaltic in their hands, and Kaspars is a shining example of what can be achieved.”

Vilmantas Vaclovas Mažonas, CEO of airBaltic Training stated: “Since establishment of the Pilot Academy, we have successfully introduced a modern educational program for aspiring commercial pilots, and we take pride in the academy’s strong reputation, which has earned international recognition. This is confirmed not only by the high demand from students eager to enrol, but also by the proven success of our graduates, who continue to build excellent professional careers. Such inspiring moments like Kaspars’ upgrade highlight the lasting value the academy creates for both our students and the wider aviation industry."

There are 140 active students at the airBaltic Pilot Academy at the moment. Most of them are from the Baltic countries, however, there are students also from other EU countries such as Denmark, Germany, France, Finland, Spain and Italy among others. Overall, more than 10% of airBaltic Pilot Academy students are female.

Over the years, 138 graduates of the airBaltic Pilot Academy have become employees of the airline – most of them now flying as First Officers, with several also taking on roles as training instructors. This pathway demonstrates a clear and achievable route from training to a professional career in aviation with airBaltic.

The next graduation of the airBaltic Pilot Academy will also take place at the beginning of the new academic year and will be a milestone – with more than 20 students completing their studies, it will be the largest graduating class in the academy’s history.

Students of the airBaltic Pilot Academy have to cover the costs of ATPL theory studies and 45 flight hours, at a cost of EUR 25 000. After passing airBaltic pilot assessment and becoming an employee of the company, the airline will provide financing (loan) for the rest of the studies.

Additionally, for more than a year now, airBaltic has expanded its training capabilities with its second Airbus A220 full flight simulator. This state-of-the-art addition significantly improves the airline's capacity to train and maintain the qualifications of its growing team of pilots, supporting both the expansion of its fleet and the ongoing development of the Pilot Academy. It also provides young pilots with the opportunity to learn and practice using the latest, industry-leading technology – right from the start of their journey.