AirBaltic

From Wikicompany

airBaltic is the Latvian national airline. A secondary hub is located in the neighbouring country Lithuania, in its capital Vilnius.

As of May 2005, airBaltic flies from Riga to 25 cities around Europe.

airBaltic has strong links with SAS AB which owns 47.2% of the airline (the Latvian state holds the remainder). The company operates frequent flights to SAS hubs in Copenhagen and Stockholm. The airline boasts "Well connected with SAS" status and the airline's frequent flyer programme is SAS' EuroBonus scheme. Other products and services shared with SAS include co-ordinated timetabling and shared airport lounges.

Unlike its affiliated carrier, SAS, airBaltic is not a member of the Star Alliance or any other airline grouping, though this may change in the future if SAS successfully sponsors the carrier as a regional member. At the moment, however, codeshare agreements are in place with Spanair and Blue1, as well as a partnering agreement with German carrier Hapag-Lloyd Express.

airBaltic carried 589,288 passengers in 2004 and achieved an operating profit of €1.2m on a turnover of €73.4m.

Their present livery consists of an all white fuselage and lime-coloured tailfin. airBaltic.com is displayed on the forward upper fuselage, and simply Baltic is repeated in white on the lower part of the tailfin.

Fleet

The airBaltic fleet consists of the following aircraft (at May 2005):

• 7 Boeing 737-500
• 6 Fokker 50

Code Data

• IATA code: BT
• ICAO code: BTI
• Callsign: Air Baltic

History

airBaltic's history began in 1995, after a joint venture on August 28 had been signed between the Latvian government and international interests; the Latvian government holding 51 per cent of the airline's stock. SAS AB was (and remains) the main foreign investor.

October 1 of that year was a double historic day for the airline. Their first plane, a SAAB 340, arrived at Riga, and that afternoon, the plane was making the first passenger flight for Air Baltic.

In 1996, the airline's first AVRO RJ70 was delivered; and Air Baltic joined SAS' frequent flier club as a partner.

1997 saw the opening of a cargo department, and in 1998, the airline's first Fokker 50 plane was delivered. The adopted livery was mainly white, with Air Baltic in blue on the forward fuselage, the 'B' logo being heavily stylised in blue checks. The blue checked pattern was repeated on the aircraft tailfin.

In 1999, Air Baltic became a joint stock company, and all their Saab 340s were replaced by Fokker 50s. By September, the airline had began operating under the European Aviation Operating Standards, or JAR ops. airBaltic welcomed the new millennium by introducing new uniforms and opening a cargo center at Riga's airport.

The first Boeing 737 joined the fleet in 2003, and on 2004-06-01, Air Baltic launched services from the Lithuanian capital, Vilnius, initially to five destinations.

In October 2004, Air Baltic rebranded as airBaltic, adopting a new corporate livery in the process.

As of May 2005, airBaltic connects Vilnius with 11 European destinations.

External links

• airBaltic Boeing Fleet Detail
• airBaltic Passenger Opinions