On the fourth Sunday of Advent, December 22, 2024, a modern Airbus A220-300 from Air Baltic landed at Innsbruck Airport - a premiere that attracted a lot of attention. With 121 passengers on board, the Latvian airline opened a new route between Riga and Innsbruck. This connection will be operated every Sunday until March 23, 2025 and will not only bring Latvian guests to the winter sports region of Tyrol, but also give Tyroleans the opportunity to explore the Baltic metropolis of Riga.
The first flight was celebrated with a special welcome ceremony. A welcoming committee consisting of representatives from the airport and the region welcomed the flight's crew and passengers. Patrick Dierich, deputy airport director, was enthusiastic: "It is a pleasure for us to welcome Air Baltic as our new airline partner and we wish the route every success for its first winter season with us."
Thomas Ramdahl, Senior Vice President Network Management at Air Baltic, also expressed his positive opinion: "We are delighted to expand Air Baltic's presence in Austria and connect Innsbruck with the vibrant city of Riga. Our thanks go to our partners at Innsbruck Airport who have made this collaboration possible."
The significance of the new connection
Riga, the home of Air Baltic, is a hub with more than 80 destinations in Europe, the Middle East, North Africa and the Caucasus. The new direct connection to Innsbruck offers Latvian guests an attractive opportunity to experience the Alps and their famous winter sports areas. At the same time, it offers Tyroleans a direct connection to the historic Hanseatic city of Riga, which is known for its Art Nouveau architecture, cultural diversity and its role as the economic center of the region.
The flights will be operated on a weekly basis, with adjusted times in the months of February and March 2025. The flight times are coordinated so that both arrivals and departures can be conveniently organized for holiday guests.
Air Baltic: Modern fleet and future-oriented strategy
Air Baltic relies exclusively on the Airbus A220-300, a state-of-the-art aircraft type with a capacity of 148 seats. With an average fleet age of just under three years, the airline is one of the most modern in Europe. The Airbus A220-300 is known for its passenger comfort, efficiency and reliability - aspects that were also highlighted at the premiere in Innsbruck.
With this connection, Air Baltic is establishing itself not only as a reliable partner of Innsbruck Airport, but also as a bridge builder between the Baltic States and the Alps.
Additions to the winter flight program
In addition to the new connection to Riga, other airlines are expanding their services in Innsbruck:
- Austrian Airlines adds an additional connection to Amsterdam on Sundays.
- Aegean Airlines will offer a second frequency to Athens from 23 December.
- EasyJet will be increasing its route to Bristol from 29 December.
- British Airways will start additional flights to London City from December 27th and to London Heathrow from February.
These expansions underline the importance of Innsbruck Airport as a central hub for Alpine winter tourism.