Ilja Seliverstovs

VP Cargo

Ilja’s dream of aviation began in childhood, when he wanted to become a fighter jet pilot. Although his path first led him to the Maritime Academy and later to logistics studies, he ultimately ended up where he had originally hoped – in the aviation industry.

He joined airBaltic in 2007 as a cargo operations agent. “Throughout my career, I’ve looked for additional responsibilities that interested me but weren’t part of my job description. By gaining valuable extra knowledge across different roles, I was invited in 2017 to become Head of the Cargo Department, and later promoted to Vice President of Cargo,” Ilja recalls.

For him, aviation has its own charm and even a sense of romance. At airBaltic, he values the atmosphere of growth and development – a company that always aims higher. “And of course, the people, both in my department and beyond. Cargo operations are never isolated – every shipment is a collaboration between multiple departments.”

The work in the cargo department is diverse, combining both commercial and operational responsibilities. On the operational side, the team manages bookings, controls capacity, resolves supply chain disruptions, ensures customer service and supplier management. On the commercial side, they set pricing, carry out sales activities, analyze markets, sign agreements with partner airlines, and even expand the network using multimodal transport options. “We’re a small, agile team – which allows us to quickly implement changes and start new projects,” Ilja explains.

Challenges are part of the job. For example, ensuring that an important shipment of fresh fish reached its destination on time, or re-routing delayed concert equipment to ensure the event could go ahead as planned, required quick action and work outside regular hours.

“The positive thing is that in aviation, your network is wide, and most people are ready to help each other,” he says. Some shipments stand out for more emotional reasons, such as transporting lynxes, penguins, seals, and even the world’s smallest deer, the pudu.

Certain cargo operations have been especially memorable for the pride they brought. During the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic, airBaltic was the first carrier to deliver critically needed personal protective equipment to Latvia, organizing the full supply chain from eastern China to Riga. At that time, airBaltic was among the first airlines in Europe to use passenger aircraft for cargo-only flights.

Ilja also recalls establishing a postal delivery line from Ukraine at the start of the war in 2022 (that is still in operation today), and the record-breaking week in December 2024, when 280 tonnes of cargo and mail were transported in just seven days. “None of this would be possible without close cooperation between all parties involved working toward a single goal,” Ilja notes.

Reflecting on airBaltic’s 30th anniversary, Ilja points to the airline’s resilience despite turbulence: “airBaltic is not just an aircraft fleet or office walls. It’s the people whose work, passion, and values form the company’s heart and soul. I wish the airline to grow and evolve, to strive for excellence, to stay calm, and to continue its journey into the future with courage.”