Jānis Kesteris

Head of IT, Business Area Baltic at If P&C Insurance AS

airBaltic and If – it’s nearly 20 years of shared journeys. Jānis Kesteris recalls that cooperation with airBaltic began at the airline’s very origins, but the company officially joined the corporate program in 2006. Today, colleagues across all three Baltic states actively use it to plan business trips both within the region and to If offices in Scandinavia.

“airBaltic offers the most convenient schedules on these routes – out in the morning, back in the evening – and this flexibility and punctuality allow our teams to be present at the most important moments,” Kesteris emphasizes. This confidence has been crucial for building IT teams across the Baltics, where regular face-to-face meetings are an essential part of the work culture.

The network also provides access to key conferences in Western Europe and even the US. “Today, good connections from Riga feel like a basic necessity – and that’s the advantage airBaltic ensures.”

Some moments stand out especially clearly – such as colleagues managing to attend critical meetings in different countries within a single day, thanks to morning and evening flights, without sacrificing family time.

Just as memorable are the personal stories: one employee once lost her favorite wristwatch on board, only to have airBaltic’s team find and return it, sparking joy and gratitude. Another colleague, traveling with her son, experienced a touching moment when the crew spontaneously offered to take a photo together for his school project on airBaltic airplanes. “A gesture so heartfelt that they will never forget it,” says Kesteris.

He admits that flying with a national airline always feels special. For him and his team, airBaltic represents a reliable partner that carries Latvia’s name worldwide, symbolizing innovation, stability, and pride in the region. “You don’t just take people to their destination – you create a sense of safety, care, and hospitality,” he says, wishing airBaltic continued growth and the courage to inspire with bold decisions for the next 30 years.