airBaltic to launch Riga-Malta service

Latvian airline airBaltic will launch a new route from Riga to Malta on May 11. The new service will offer convenient travel between the two destinations as well as connections to the Baltics, Scandinavia, Russia, and the CIS, Malta International Airport said.

Michael Grimme, Chief Commercial Officer of airBaltic commented: “As part of airBaltic ReShape business plan we have been concentrating on high-demand routes and added frequencies to 12 destinations in Europe and the CIS already for this winter. At the same time we have decreased flying on low-demand routes, which makes aircraft available for other new routes. In total, we are planning to open six new routes for the next summer, and we are delighted to announce Malta as our new summer destination.”

Malta Airport CEO Markus Klaushofer: “We are really pleased to announce this new service between Malta and Riga as a new destination in our route network through the addition of a new airline to our portfolio. Surely the close collaboration with the Malta Tourism Authority and our concerted efforts in making Malta a viable proposition for airlines to consider, are reaping the desired results.”

Malta Tourism Authority CEO Josef Formosa Gauci said this was an exciting new service which offered new opportunities for the tourism sector.

"We are positive that Malta will prove to be an attractive destination for Latvian people. We hope that this connection will have a positive effect on the potential of the Baltic market for the Maltese Islands.”