Back to BlogShift4 & airBaltic: Navigating Payments on a Smarter Flight Path
High above the clouds, airBaltic isn’t just getting passengers from A to B — it’s rewriting what travelers expect from an airline. With a fleet so young it practically still has new-plane smell, this Riga-based carrier has become a leader when it comes to aviation innovation in Europe — from pioneering new routes out of the Baltics to introducing the continent’s first in-flight Starlink Wi-Fi.
To support its growth and deliver a seamless experience to passengers and employees, airBaltic partnered with Shift4, an end-to-end payments platform built to scale across borders, industries, and ambitions.
Turning a Crisis Into Opportunity
Like many airlines, airBaltic faced major challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially around risk management and payment complexity. The need for a more agile, supportive partner led them to Shift4 — and the result was a collaboration that quickly evolved beyond transactions.
“It didn’t feel like onboarding a vendor—it felt like building a joint team.”— Māris Zilgalvis, Payment Process Manager, airBaltic
One Platform, Many Possibilities
Today, Shift4 powers airBaltic’s entire payments ecosystem across multiple countries and currencies. Key capabilities include:
- An end-to-end payment solution tailored for airlines
- FX support and broad settlement currency options
- Gateway functionalities with support for AMEX, UATP, BSPone, and more
- Business optimization tools that boost both performance and control
This unified setup simplifies airBaltic’s operations — allowing for faster reporting, more flexible payment options, and a smoother booking experience for passengers around the world.
Built for Speed, Designed for Scale
The implementation was fast, frictionless, and hands-on. airBaltic gained direct access to Shift4’s team from day one, enabling swift integration despite complex requirements.
With Shift4, airBaltic now manages payments across all markets from a single platform, with tools that help the finance team move faster and the passenger experience feel seamless.
Powering What’s Next
As airBaltic continues to grow, so does its ambition to build a future-ready payment ecosystem — one that’s more automated, more data-driven, and more customer-focused.
“airBaltic isn’t just adopting technology—they’re shaping the future of aviation payments. We’re proud to support that journey.”— Tara Rasmussen, Key Account Manager, Shift4
From real-time insights to next-gen functionality like UATP support, Shift4 remains a core part of airBaltic’s roadmap for innovation.
Why It Matters
For airlines and travel businesses dealing with fragmented, outdated payment systems, airBaltic’s story offers a clear takeaway: it's possible to simplify complexity, scale more intelligently, and do it all with a partner committed to the long haul. With Shift4 powering commerce behind the scenes, airBaltic is flying towards clear skies ahead.