French fighter jets within NATO’s Baltic air-policing mission shot down a drone in eastern Latvia in the morning of 8 June 2026, the Latvian National Armed Forces (NBS) announced, LSM reports. NBS said that the drone entered Latvian airspace due to Russian “electromagnetic warfare,” TVNET reported. Eyewitness said that the incident occurred near the village…
Lithuania will only consider the deployment of US nuclear weapons in the country in the event of a crisis or war, Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas stated, BNS reports. He assured that there was “no talk” of deploying weapons of mass destruction in Lithuania during peacetime. However, in a crisis or war, Lithuania should be prepared…
The Baltic States are interested in hosting US military aircraft capable of carrying out nuclear strikes, LETA reports. Sources told the Financial Times that the US was considering the possibility of stationing nuclear-capable bombers in more NATO countries in Europe. According to the sources, countries on NATO’s eastern flank, including Poland and some Baltic States,…
Latvia’s SmartLynx Airlines has filed for insolvency, LETA reports. CEO Edvinas Demenius explained that SmartLynx had intended to implement a restructuring plan by 15 December 2025. However, “false and misleading information from various stakeholders” had led to the loss of aircraft and customer contracts, he said. SmartLynx has liabilities totalling around EUR 238mn, of which EUR…
Latvia’s national air carrier, airBaltic, will cancel altogether 4,670 flights in summer 2025, LSM reports. The company will suspend flights on 19 routes and cut the number of flights on 21 routes. The cancellations will affect around 67,160 passengers. The company said that US manufacturer Pratt & Whitney’s engine maintenance work on the airline’s Airbus…
The crash of Spanish air carrier Swiftair’s cargo plane in the Lithuanian capital, Vilnius, on 25 November 2024 may have been caused by a technical fault or pilot error, LRT reports. One crew member perished in the incident. Surviving crew members had no indication of foul play, and investigators have found no evidence of terrorism….
Latvia’s national air carrier, airBaltic, plans to expand its operations at Lithuania’s Vilnius International Airport (VIA), CEO Martin Gauss announced, LETA reports. He said that the company would more than double its fleet in Vilnius and increase the number of destinations offered from the airport. Currently, airBaltic has two aircraft stationed at VIA. Gauss said…
Estonia’s state-owned national air carrier, Nordica, may lose its main partner, Sweden-based Scandinavian Airlines (SAS), ERR reports. Nordica provides operational services under the Xfly brand, and SAS has been Nordica’s largest client. However, SAS has now signed a long-term cooperation agreement with Sweden’s Braathens Regional Airlines (BRA). Sander Salmu, deputy secretary general for mobility at…
Latvia’s national air carrier, airBaltic, has signed a three-year wet lease agreement with Germany’s Lufthansa Group, LETA reports. Under the agreement, airBaltic will begin operating Lufthansa Group flights with up to 21 Airbus A220-300 aircraft in summer 2025. Previously, airBaltic has signed leasing agreements with Lufthansa Group companies, including SWISS and Discover Airlines. Meanwhile, media…
