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Joe Breitfeller

airBaltic to Take Over Passenger Handling at Riga Airport; Adds Flights to Valencia, Pisa and Kos

From January 2022, airBaltic will take over passenger handling at Riga Airport (RIX), which has been outsourced for the last 18 years. In an earlier press release, the airline also announced new service to Valencia, Pisa and Kos.


airBaltic Airbus A220-300 - Courtesy airBaltic

On Thursday (April 19, 2021), airBaltic announced that starting in January 2022, they will take over passenger handling at Riga Airport (RIX) in Latvia which has been outsourced for the last 18 years. The change is part of the carrier’s cost improvement program which will simplify their business and operations. Also, starting January 2022, RIX Ground Handling will provide ramp duties for the carrier under a new five year agreement. The partnership will help strengthen airBaltic’s operational performance, as RIX Ground Handling’s punctuality rate for 2019 was 99.86%.


In Thursday’s announcement, airBaltic’s Chief Executive Officer, Martin Gauss, said,


“For the last 18 years, passenger handling was outsourced. Now, during the crisis airBaltic is successfully revising its products and service to focus on delivering the core brand values, which includes a strong focus on all passenger touchpoints. As of next year, when checking in at Riga Airport and boarding the aircraft, passengers will meet airBaltic staff, thus ensuring a seamless customer service.”


In an earlier press release on Wednesday (April 28, 2021), airBaltic announced the launch of new flights with service to Valencia (Spain), Pisa (Italy) and Kos (Greece) from July 2021. With the added routes, airBaltic will serve over 96 routes from the Baltics this year.


Commenting on the route additions, Mr. Gauss, said,


“As vaccination rates improve across Europe, we see that the demand for leisure travel is increasing. For example, Greece is already inviting tourists, without asking them to self-isolate upon arrival. This season airBaltic will launch a new selection of sunny leisure destinations, improving our strong network out of the Baltics.”


airBaltic also announced the launch of a fare sale through May 5th, with special prices available for travel on select flight between May and October 2021. Included in the fare sale are sunny leisure destinations such as Malaga, Barcelona, Athens, Heraklion, Rhodes and Santorini.


Established in 1995, Air Baltic Corporation SA (airBaltic) is a joint stock company with most of the equity (96.14%) held by the Latvian state and the remaining shares held by Lars Thuesen through his holding company Aircraft Leasing 1 SIA. The airline Group also includes Air Baltic Training SIA, Loyalty Services SIA, Baltijas Kravu Centrs SIA and Crew Resources AS. One of the most punctual carriers in the world, the airline connects the Baltic region to over 70 destinations in Europe, the Middle East, and the CIS with a fleet of 25 Airbus A220-300s.


Source: airBaltic

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