Kristofers Granāts

Captain on Airbus A220-300

Determination that, on his 25th birthday, led to the captain’s seat. This is the story of airBaltic Airbus A220-300 captain Kristofers Granāts – a shining example of the power of determination and passion – who, in 2019, became the youngest pilot to hold this important position.

Kristofers’ fascination with aviation began in early childhood. “My mother even uses the word ‘obsession’,” he says with a laugh. “For as long as I can remember, I’ve always wanted to connect my life with aviation.”

One of his earliest childhood memories is a flight to Frankfurt. Sitting on his father’s lap, he watched the bustle of the airport through the window and thought to himself – this is what I want to do, this is the environment I want to be in. Although no one in his family had any ties to aviation, Kristofers began determinedly seeking a path toward becoming a pilot while still in his teenage years.

At the age of 15, he visited one of the few pilot schools available in Riga at the time. Despite initial skepticism about his age, he convinced the school’s management of his commitment. “I passed the first theoretical exams, and by the age of 16, I had completed my first solo flight,” he recalls. During his final year of high school, he completed commercial pilot theory and earned his commercial license.

From the beginning, his goal was clear – not just to fly commercially, but to do so with the ‘green tail’. “airBaltic was always on my radar,” Kristofers recalls. A defining moment came during a job-shadowing day at airBaltic, where Captain Rimantas Antanavičius inspired him to pursue his dream. “He was calm, professional, and the passengers were thrilled. That day, he became my role model,” Kristofers remembers.

In 2018, when Kristofers first applied to work at airBaltic, it was once again Rimantas who evaluated his skills during the assessment process. This led to training on the Bombardier Dash 8 Q400, and the following year, Kristofers officially joined the airline as a First Officer.

One of the biggest challenges in his career came with the Covid-19 pandemic, which temporarily slowed his fast-paced development. When flights were significantly reduced, he joined the airBaltic Training team as a theoretical and flight instructor – an opportunity that allowed him to stay close to the industry, gain new skills, and take on responsibility in training the next generation of pilots.

At the end of 2021, Kristofers returned to active flying, operating the Airbus A220-300. Over time, he accumulated the required flight hours, and in the summer of 2024, became a Captain. Fittingly, he flew his first flight in this new role on his 25th birthday.

He emphasizes that the most important quality in a Captain is a strong sense of responsibility – for the aircraft, for colleagues, and for passengers. In his view, a good Captain is not only technically skilled and punctual but also able to manage situations and make decisions with confidence.

“I’m proud that I get to fly at home – in Latvia,” he says. “airBaltic is a significant company on a national scale. I hope we continue to grow and overcome challenges just like we always have – and celebrate many more anniversaries together.”