01 May, 2021

Ryanair to compete with airBaltic at Riga........

Photo Riga Airport
airBaltic will face fresh competition from the budget carrier Ryanair later this year when the Irish low-cost-high-fee airline opens a new base at Riga and bases two aircraft there.

The base is set to open in October this year and Ryanair is hoping to operate 95 flights a week from airBaltic's home base, on 30 routes, including 16 new ones.

Ryanair says the new base represents a $200m investment, although the figures to back up that bold statement have not been released, it will still be good for the local economy. Providing of course that it doesn't cause airBaltic to shed more staff. 

airBaltic is not happy at the announcement and a number of calls to the authorities have already been made. The management of the Latvian airline will be even less amused if the rumors circulating around the airport that Ryanair is getting whopping up to a 40+% discount on airport fees proves to be true.

Ryanair’s Commercial Director, Jason McGuinness, said: “We are delighted to announce the opening of a new base in Riga, which will support economic recovery as well as international connectivity, delivering 16 new routes (30 in total) from the end of October. This is a significant announcement for the Ryanair Group and a great boost for Buzz in Latvia with the creation of these 60 jobs.

Efficient operations and competitive airport charges provides the foundation from which Ryanair can deliver long-term traffic growth and increased connectivity. We have worked closely with Riga airport to secure this growth and improve the services."

Ryanair will fly to various destinations including Budapest, Malaga, Palermo, Paris Beauvais, Rome, Bristol, Aarhus, Venice, Frankfurt, Warsaw, Lviv, Kviv, Krakow, and Gottenburg.                                           



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