Latvian Government Ousts AirBaltic CEO Martin Gauss
Photo Credit: AirBaltic operates a fleet of 49 Airbus A220-300 aircraft. AirBaltic
Skift Take
Gauss’ 13-year tenure at airBaltic was full of notable achievements, but recent months have seen tensions flare between airline management and its majority shareholder.
Martin Gauss has been removed as CEO of Latvian national airline airBaltic. The company confirmed Gauss’ departure in a statement Monday that said the decision was taken by the supervisory board following a regular shareholders meeting.
The company is majority-owned by the Latvian state, which until recently held a 97.97% stake. In January, Germany’s Lufthansa agreed to acquire a 10% stake, subject to final regulatory approvals.
Writing on X on Monday, Atis Švinka, the country’s transport minister said (in Latvian): “I inform you that Martin Gauss has been dismissed from his position. It is important for me to see the results. AirBaltic is a company of national importance, and it must be able to independently develop and adapt to external conditions.”
Gauss joined airBaltic in November 2011, with his 13-year tenure making him one of Europe’s most established airline chief executives. During his time as CEO, he guided the carrier through a period of remarkable transformation, although not without controversy.
"Today, my journey as CEO of airBaltic comes to an end. The Latvian government, as majority shareholder, has withdrawn its trust — and the Supervisory Board has acted accordingly," Gauss wrote on X.
"I leave after 13 intense years, proud of what we built: a resilient airline, a loyal team, and a bold vision. I gave everything — and I would do it again. Thank you to those who stood by me. The mission continues, even if the seat changes," Gauss added.
Today, my journey as CEO of @airBaltic comes to an end. The Latvian government, as majority shareholder, has withdrawn its trust — and the Supervisory Board has acted accordingly.
— Martin Gauss (@Gaussm) April 7, 2025
I leave after 13 intense years, proud of what we built: a resilient airline, a loyal team, and a… pic.twitter.com/ofUheGVY8W
AirBaltic Interim CEO Appointed
Effective immediately, Pauls Cālītis will be interim CEO. He joined the company in 1995 as a pilot before moving into senior leadership roles. He was appointed chief operations officer in 2020.
Andrejs Martinovs, chairman of the airline’s supervisory board said: “We maintain full confidence in the management board and the professional team, which ensures the company’s day-to-day operations, passenger services, and overall management. Our core objectives remain unchanged, and airBaltic continues to implement its strategy and move forward toward a potential IPO.”
Interim CEO Pauls Cālītis added: “The company’s operational performance will remain unaffected. Our team is strong and motivated, and we are fully prepared to ensure stability, continuity, and further development.”
Based in Latvia, airBaltic operates more than 120 routes from hubs in Riga, Tallinn, Vilnius, and Tampere. The carrier operates a single-type fleet, consisting of 49 Airbus A220-300 planes.
It has 24 codeshare agreements with carriers including Delta Air Lines, British Airways, and Lufthansa.
In February, the airline became the first in Europe to install Elon Musk's SpaceX Starlink Wi-Fi. To mark the occasion, Gauss took to social media to share a video message from 35,000 feet.
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