Erno Hildén Takes Over as airBaltic CEO: Leadership Change Complete

Erno Hildén officially assumed leadership of Latvian carrier airBaltic on December 1, 2025, bringing over 25 years of international aviation and finance expertise to the role. The Finnish executive, who previously served as Executive Vice President and Group CFO at SAS Scandinavian Airlines, replaces interim CEO Pauls Cālītis, who returns to his position as Chief Operating Officer. Hildén’s appointment follows the dismissal of long-time CEO Martin Gauss in April 2025 and represents a strategic leadership transition aimed at strengthening operations and supporting the airline’s long-term sustainability.