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Air Baltic Files for U.S. Chapter 11 to Restructure Debts

A binding €350 million debtor loan will fund operations through a court‑supervised reorganization set to aim for completion by about June 2027.

Overview

  • Air Baltic filed a voluntary Chapter 11 petition in the United States on Monday and said its flight schedules will continue without disruption.
  • The airline secured a binding €350 million debtor‑in‑possession financing package at about a 12 percent interest rate to preserve liquidity for the restructuring.
  • Latvia remains the dominant owner with more than 88 percent of shares and officials are widely expected to underwrite a restart by injecting capital during the court process.
  • Company executives and coverage point to years of aggressive expansion, heavy reliance on wet‑leasing, rising fuel costs and pandemic and war shocks as the causes of unsustainable debt.
  • The Chapter 11 route lets Air Baltic keep operating while negotiating with creditors and partners and the outcome is likely to reshape minority stakes such as Lufthansa’s 10 percent holding.