airBaltic has announced flights to Crete and Santorini in Greece, Naples in Italy, Dubai in United Arab Emirates and Munich in Germany.
Greek Island Expansion
In the same week as Greece shared its plans for reopening its borders for Tourism, Latvian airline airBaltic announced plans to connect Riga with Heraklion in Crete and Santorini. Flights to Heraklion will start from 15th May while flights to Santorini will start from 5th June. Both the Greek destinations will be served by the airline’s A220-300 aircraft.
Flight schedule of Riga-Heraklion-Riga route:
- Riga-Heraklion
- Departure time: 13:20
- Arrival time: 16:55
- Flight time: 3 hours and 55 minutes
- Flight number: BT635
- Frequency: Tuesdays and Saturdays
- Heraklion-Riga
- Departure time: 18:00
- Arrival time: 21:35
- Flight time: 3 hours and 35 minutes
- Flight number: BT636
- Frequency: Tuesdays and Saturdays
Commenting on the launch of flights of Heraklion, Martin Gauss, Chief Executive Officer, airBaltic, said:
We are optimistic about the upcoming summer season. If travel in general will be possible and the epidemiological situation will improve as the vaccination levels increase, demand for air travel will return. We will be prepared for that, thus during the upcoming days we will be revealing several new destinations, in addition to Heraklion in Greece. This summer season airBaltic aims to offer a wide range of safe connections from Riga.
Related: Qatar Airways announces resumption of flights to Mykonos this summer
Flight schedule of Riga-Santorini-Riga route:
- Riga-Santorini
- Departure time: 14:30
- Arrival time: 17:55
- Flight time: 3 hours and 25 minutes
- Flight number: BT623
- Frequency: Only Saturdays
- Santorini-Riga
- Departure time: 18:40
- Arrival time: 22:10
- Flight time: 3 hours and 30 minutes
- Flight number: BT624
- Frequency: Only Saturdays
Mr. Gauss on the launch of flights to Santorini said:
This summer season we are planning to connect Riga with many sunny destinations in the Mediterranean Sea region. We are delighted to offer safe and convenient direct travel options for travelers between Riga and the well-known Greece island Santorini. We are getting ready for the upcoming summer season with improved route map, and we believe that might be the time when the epidemiological situation improves and the demand for air travel increases.
Comeback in UAE
For those of you who don’t know, airBaltic used to operate flights between Riga and Abu Dhabi in codeshare with Etihad. The route has been terminated now, however, airBaltic is making a comeback in the UAE market.
The carrier has announced flights between Riga and Dubai from 1st September,2021. Flights to Dubai will be operated by Airbus A220-300.
Flight schedule of Riga-Dubai-Riga route:
- Riga-Dubai
- Departure time: 23:10
- Arrival time: 06:35 (the next day)
- Flight time: 6 hours and 25 minutes
- Flight number: BT791
- Frequency: Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays
- Dubai-Riga
- Departure time: 08:05
- Arrival time: 13:50
- Flight time: 6 hours and 45 minutes
- Flight number: BT792
- Frequency: Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays
Commenting on the launch of flights to Dubai, Mr. Gauss said:
Dubai for years has been one of the most significant unserved destinations from Riga. Now, with the Expo 2020 starting in October, we will offer a direct connection from Riga, which will be appreciated by many passengers across the Baltic region and Scandinavia. Additionally, the new route will provide an excellent connectivity further from Dubai International (DXB) to the Middle East, Asia-Pacific and Africa.
H.E. Mrs Hanan Al Aleeli, Ambassador of the UAE to Latvia said:
Expo 2020 Dubai will be the first in-person global mega event since the pandemic began, which will be welcoming millions of visitors from all over the world. Therefore, the timing of these convenient and fast flights between Riga and Dubai before the event is exceptional, and will contribute not only to economic development, but also in creating further opportunities for political, cultural and people-to-people ties between the UAE and Latvia. Emiratis and Latvians themselves are what has created the demand for these flights, a direct result of the close relationship between our two nations.
Related: Qatar Airways announces resumption of flights to UAE
Tallinn to Munich fkights
The airline also plans to connect Tallinn with Munich. airBaltic will fly from the Estonian capital to Munich from 1st May,2021.
Flight schedule of Tallinn-Munich-Tallinn route:
- Tallinn-Munich
- Departure time: 07:05
- Arrival time: 08:35
- Flight time: 2 hours and 30 minutes
- Flight number: BT823
- Frequency: Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays
- Munich-Tallinn
- Departure time: 09:15
- Arrival time: 12:35
- Flight time: 2 hours and 20 minutes
- Flight number: BT824
- Frequency: Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays
Mr. Gauss on the launch of flights from Tallinn to Munich said:
airBaltic showed its strong commitment to Estonia, by continuing to serve the country in market conditions, where traffic volumes decreased significantly. Now, while rebuilding our network, we are adding new flight opportunities for those passengers that need to travel. This summer from Tallinn we intend to offer flights to 12 destinations.
Currently, airBaltic offers direct flights from Tallinn to Amsterdam, Berlin, Copenhagen, London, Oslo and Stockholm as well as connections via Riga. In the upcoming months airBaltic also plans to resume direct flights to Brussels, Malaga, Paris and Vilnius.
Expanding in Italy
airBaltic has announced plans to connect Riga with Naples in Italy from 4th June. The schedule of Riga-Naples-Riga is as follows:
- Riga-Naples
- Departure time: 07:30
- Arrival time: 09:35
- Flight time: 3 hours and 05 minutes
- Flight number: BT645
- Frequency: Mondays and Fridays
- Naples-Riga
- Departure time: 10:25
- Arrival time: 14:20
- Flight time: 2 hours and 55 minutes
- Flight number: BT646
- Frequency: Mondays and Fridays
The airline already flights to 6 destinations in Italy that are Milan, Catania, Verona, Venice, Rome and Olbia.
Featured image by Aeronautics Online
What do you think of airBaltic’s Summer expansion in Europe and Middle East? Are you excited to fly on one of the many new routes? Let me know in the comments section below.
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