Train in Riga, fly from home!

The airBaltic Pilot Academy not only attracts aspiring pilots from across the Baltics but also gives them the opportunity to build their careers closer to home.

With operational bases beyond Riga, including in Vilnius, the airBaltic Pilot Academy allows graduates to return to their home countries while flying for one of Europe’s most modern airlines, thus combining international standards with a strong regional presence.

One such graduate is Kazimieras Starkevičius, who joined the airBaltic Pilot Academy in autumn 2022. After having graduated from university, he began searching for pilot training opportunities during the post-pandemic recovery period, when airline-supported cadet programmes were limited. The academy’s location in neighbouring Latvia was convenient, but the decisive factors for Starkevičius were the financial support provided by airBaltic and the clear pathway to flying a jet airliner after graduation.

Starkevičius describes the study process as demanding, not because of the complexity of the material but more due to the intensity and pace of the training. During the theoretical phase of training, returning home to Lithuania was not possible. The flying phase that followed offered more flexibility and helped connect classroom knowledge with real operations.

After graduating in autumn 2024, Starkevičius began his Airbus A220 type rating and completed his first passenger flight by the end of the year. Soon after line training, he began flying from the airline’s Vilnius base, which is located just an hour’s drive from his hometown of Kaunas. This lets him spend significantly more time with his family and friends and even help out on the family farm on his days off during the busy summer season.

Starkevičius has now accumulated around 800 flight hours on the A220, which he sees as a solid foundation for his career. Flying from Vilnius, he often shares the cockpit with Lithuanian captains, strengthening his sense of flying at home. One of the more special moments comes when operating an aircraft in Lithuanian livery – those are rare but meaningful opportunities to represent his country at European airports and a favourite sight for aviation enthusiasts.

From training in Riga to flying from Vilnius, Starkevičius’ story shows how the airBaltic Pilot Academy helps Baltic talent return home…without limiting their horizons.