DUBLIN, Jan 13 (Reuters) - AirBaltic's initial public

offering (IPO) could be pushed back to early 2026, the Latvian

airline's chief executive said on Monday, adding that ongoing

issues with engine deliveries were hampering the airline's

growth prospects.

The airline, whose IPO was initially planned for last year,

said this month that it would have to cancel a number of summer

flight routes as a result of delays on engine deliveries.

"They just really don't get it," CEO Martin Gauss told

Reuters on the sidelines of an aviation finance conference in

Dublin, referring to RTX-owned engine manufacturer Pratt

and Whitney.

Pratt and Whitney did not immediately respond to a Reuters

request for comment.

Gauss added that, with delays set to continue for at least

three years to come, talks with the engine maker were ongoing to

address compensation to the airline for the delays.

He said pressure from bodies like trade group IATA on the

engine makers was helping to show that "there is an

industry-wide issue", adding that there was a greater need for

transparency given the ongoing challenges.

Gauss said the airline was still looking for a pre-IPO

strategic investor.

"Currently, we're talking to one pre-IPO investor, but we

are able to open it in the future to other investors," Gauss

said.

Reuters reported last year that Lufthansa was interested in

a strategic stake in AirBaltic.