First Graduate of the airBaltic Pilot Academy Becomes Captain

Latvian airline airBaltic's Pilot Academy is celebrating an important milestone for both the company and its team as Kaspars Kasakovskis, the very first graduate of the academy, has successfully completed his Captain upgrade, becoming the firstairBaltic 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: “Kaspars’ achievement is an outstanding milestone not only for him personally, but also forairBaltic 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: “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 currently 140 active students at the airBaltic Pilot Academy. 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.