Erno Hildén Appointed New CEO of airBaltic, Succeeding Cālītis

Latvian airline airBaltic has recently announced that Erno Hildén has officially begun his role as the new CEO, effective December 1, 2025.

In their statement, airBaltic confirmed that Pauls Cālītis, who served as interim CEO, will revert to his position as Chief Operating Officer (COO) and remain a part of the Executive Board.

Hildén expressed his enthusiasm about joining the airBaltic team, stating, “I am honored to join the airBaltic team. Together with the Executive Board and our teams, I will focus on ensuring continuity, strengthening day-to-day operations, and supporting the airline’s strategic development and long-term sustainability.”

With over 25 years of international experience in both aviation and finance, Hildén brings valuable expertise to his new role. His previous position was Executive Vice President and Group Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at SAS Scandinavian Airlines, where he played a key role in the company’s transformation and capital-raising initiatives until June 2025.

Before his tenure at SAS, Hildén held significant roles at Saudi Arabian Airlines Group and Finnair, serving as Group CFO, COO, and a member of the Executive Board.

The changes in airBaltic’s leadership started in April 2025, when Martin Gauss was removed from his position as CEO after losing the confidence of the airline’s majority shareholder, the Latvian government. Following Gauss’s departure, Cālītis took on the role of interim CEO, effectively managing the airline for seven months until Hildén’s appointment. airBaltic officially named Hildén as CEO in August 2025, paving the way for his current leadership.

What do you think about the recent changes at airBaltic and what impact they might have on the airline’s future?