Estonia has no plans to invest in AirBaltic, as announced by the Minister overseeing Infrastructure.
In a recent statement, Estonia's Minister of Infrastructure, Kuldar Leys, confirmed that Estonia will not be purchasing a stake in airBaltic, the Latvian national airline. This decision comes after an offer from Latvia to sell up to a 10% stake valued at €14 million, a deal that was also extended to Lithuania and Lufthansa. Lufthansa, in fact, did acquire a 10% stake in January 2025.
Leys explained that the decision was influenced by uncertainty regarding airBaltic's financial situation and the lack of clarity on a potential Initial Public Offering (IPO). This uncertainty, coupled with the need for more information, led Estonia to decline the offer at this time.
However, the future possibilities for Estonia's involvement with airBaltic remain open. Both Estonia and Lithuania were given the option to purchase a stake during a potential IPO, but with no concrete information available, no decision has been made on this path.
In the meantime, Estonia has committed to supporting airBaltic in other ways. One such commitment is freezing airport fees at Tallinn Lennart Meri Airport for the foreseeable future. This move benefits all airlines operating there, including airBaltic, and is intended to maintain the airline's presence and operations in Estonia.
Moreover, Estonia plans to develop Tallinn Airport aggressively, aiming to serve five million passengers by 2030. This development could potentially enhance airBaltic's operations and presence in Estonia.
Minister Leys did not rule out the possibility of buying a stake in airBaltic in the future, stating that the decision will be re-evaluated as more information becomes available. For now, Estonia continues to support the airline through operational incentives, which could maintain a strong partnership in the future.
Politics surrounding airBaltic's future saw Estonia abstaining from purchasing a stake due to uncertainties about the airline's financial situation and a potential IPO, as announced by Minister of Infrastructure Kuldar Leys. In light of this, general-news reports that Estonia is supporting airBaltic by freezing airport fees at Tallinn Lennart Meri Airport and planning to develop Tallinn Airport, which could potentially improve airBaltic's operations in Estonia. Nevertheless, Minister Leys did not rule out the possibility of buying a stake in airBaltic in the future, depending on the availability of more information.
