Europe's airline industry is ripe for further consolidation although it will not be on the same scale as in the US, according to airBaltic’s chief executive.
airBaltic is one of Europe’s fastest-growing carriers, with a stated goal of reaching 15 million passengers by 2025. Ahead of his keynote address at World Routes 2019, CEO Martin Gauss outlined its plans to develop a network which spans from its heartland in the Baltics to new airports and bases across Europe.
Delegates attending the global route development forum in September will hear from the CEOs of Tigerair Australia, airBaltic, Saudi Arabian Airlines and more.
Tallinn Airport in Estonia will remain a key focus for airBaltic this year as the airline prepares to grow its fleet by up to 80 A220-300 aircraft by 2024.
The region’s largest route development forum will provide attendees with unmatched insight into the critical drivers shaping the future position of several leading airlines.
This week: Lufthansa firms up A320neo options; AirAsia X increases Hawaii focus; the Single African Air Transport Market; Air Baltic to buy up to 60 CS300s and more.
airBaltic will inaugurate the Riga – Abu Dhabi service from the start of the winter schedules on October 29, 2017 and will operate four weekly return flights using its CS300. The Etihad Airways ‘EY’ code will also be displayed on the flight under a full codeshare partnership.
The airline has selected the Canadian-built airliner for its exclusive future short-haul fleet and will replace all its existing Boeing aircraft with 20 factory new CS300s by 2020. The aircraft will not just modernise the fleet and boost efficiency, but will also enhance the airline’s range of services, expanding into medium-haul markets from Riga such as Abu Dhabi, Almaty, Astana, Casablanca, Dubai, Marrakech and Tenerife thanks to its operating performance.
airBaltic holds firm orders for 13 CS300s and options for a further seven aircraft and sees the CSeries as not just an efficient replacement for its older Boeing 737s, but also providing the right capacity and range to support the wider development of the business.
airBaltic has an order for 13 CS300s, the first of which is due to arrive in the third quarter of 2016 and is understood to be considering converting options for a further seven aircraft. It plans to use the aircraft for a mix of short- and medium-haul flying, including its Riga – Abu Dhabi route which it serves in partnership with Etihad Airways.
The regional airline closed its doors at 12:00 Noon on May 22, 2015 after operating flights that morning between Vilnius and Amsterdam, Paris and Tallinn. It is the latest in a long line of airline failures in Lithuania, which is proving to be among Europe’s most difficult country markets to serve.
Bristol Airport and airBaltic have topped the charts in a recent report by OAG which has revealed its punctuality league for 2014, highlighting on-time performance results for airlines and airports.
