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airBaltic marks 2023 as a year of development

Summarizing the key statistics and milestones of the year 2023, airBaltic announced the previous year has continued the company’s purposeful growth and development, also surpassing many pre-pandemic results. The following report presents data, including count of passengers, flights, destinations, fleet, cargo, employees, technical and operational achievements, and other, which repr...

Families with children can now enjoy more comfortable security checks at Riga Airport

From the beginning of this year, a separate screening line has been set up at the passenger security checkpoint of Riga Airport – a family line for passengers travelling with children under the age of seven.​ The family line is located between the already existing fast-track security screening line and the line for all passengers.​ It can be used both by travellers with children up to t...

SmartLynx Airlines closes the year with a record number of operated flights

In 2023 SmartLynx Airlines made 48% more flights and carried 53% more passengers than the year before. In 2023, the airline increased its fleet from 49 to 67 aircraft, including the first Boeing B737 MAX8 aircraft in the ACMI sector, which significantly boosted its passenger numbers. Over the year 2023, demand for ACMI passenger services continued to grow. This was driven by ai...

airBaltic received its 46th Airbus A220-300 aircraft

December 21, 2023, airBaltic welcomed its 46th Airbus A220-300 jet, registered as YL-ABT, in Riga. This is the seventh Airbus A220-300 delivery for airBaltic in 2023. It is a part of the 50 Airbus A220-300 which airBaltic has ordered. Furthermore, the company has announced a firm purchase agreement for 30 more Air...

airBaltic celebrates seven years of Airbus A220-300 operations

December 2023 is a very special month for airBaltic as it marks a seven year anniversary of Airbus A220-300 operations. Back on December 14, 2016 the first A220-300 commercial flight departed from Riga to Amsterdam. Thus far, airBaltic has carried more than 13 441 000 passengers on the Airbus A220-300 aircraft. Airbus A220-300s&...

By the end of November, the number of passengers at the Riga Airport exceeded 6.1 million

In November 2023, Riga Airport has served 471 thousand travellers, thus the number of passengers since the beginning of the year has exceeded the 6.1 million mark, according to the operational data on the Airport's performance indicators. Taking into account the traffic forecast for December, by the end of the year Riga Airport could serve 6.6 million passengers, which is 1.3 million more than...

airBaltic receives its 45th Airbus A220-300 aircraft

On November 21, 2023, airBaltic welcomed its 45th Airbus A220-300 jet, registered as YL-ABS, in Riga. This is the sixth Airbus A220-300 delivery for airBaltic in 2023. It is a part of the 50 Airbus A220-300which airBaltic has ordered. Furthermore, the company has announced a firm purchase agreement for 30 more Airbus A...

airBaltic eyes expansion, places new order becoming largest Airbus A220 customer in Europe

airBaltic will become the largest A220 customer in Europe after confirming an incremental order for an additional 30 A220-300s. This new order will take the airline’s total firm orderbook to 80 aircraft. Already operating a 44 strong fleet of A220-300s, airBaltic is currently the largest A220-300 operator in the world. The airline’ history with the Airbus A220-300 dates...

Determined to grow the event, education and academic content to come - Zigmars Vestfals on Riga Aviation Forum 2024

Organizing a conference is always a challenging process. A conference for aviation professionals needs to offer the right topics for discussion and the right speakers. The discovery of Riga Aviation Forum 2023 confirmed the fantastic quality of the Latvian Aviation Association's work. When an event comes to an end, it's time for the organizer to look back and start planning the next one. T...

Proactive, highly efficient, easy to reach and passionate about aviation - meet the aviation department of the Latvian Ministry of Transport

Today, I have the pleasure to welcome Director of aviation department of Ministry of Transport of Latvia – Arturs Kokars. Why? Because 50skyshades had the pleasure to be Media Partner of Riga Aviation Forum 2023. Two days of event were not enough to ask all questions and have everyone we would love to talk with.  T.O. First, thank you! It was a pleasure to be back to my birth country...

An international procurement for construction of New Riga Airport Terminal has been announced

Riga Airport announced first stage of construction procurement – qualification of applicants for construction of Airport's new terminal. The purpose of the procurement is to choose a builder who will construct new building of the passenger terminal of Riga Airport, baggage handling and sorting complex, new access roads, a multi-storey car park and the connection of the Airport with...

FCG OPS partners with International Flight Operations Academy

FCG OPS continues its partnership with the International Flight Operations Academy, providing access to world-class quality training and professional development services for aviation organizations and individuals eager to enhance their careers in different air transport industry sectors. A unique Flight Dispatch Double Certification program will be held from 6th till 23th ...