airBaltic to open a new hub in Oulu

24.09.2010 06:09 | Latvia

Author: Janis Vanags
Source: www.airbaltic.com

The Latvian national airlineairBaltic has completed negotiations with Finnish airports and will open a new hub in the Finnish city of Oulu. Currently airBaltic operates flights from North Hub Riga (Latvia), Vilnius (Lithuania) and Tallinn (Estonia).

Bertolt Flick, President and Chief Executive Officer ofairBaltic: We have operated up to four routes from Oulu so far and been very satisfied with the results. The city and the businesses have been very active in promoting their vision as the Artic Gateway. We want to be the carrier to enable the Oulu region to reach that vision. We are currently working very closely with the Oulu airport and region to develop the future route network.

Currently, airBaltic offers four destinations out of Oulu – Riga, Turku, Stockholm (in summer), Tallinn (in summer). Full hub operations will mean 10-15 airBaltic operated direct destinations out of Oulu.

In Finland, airBaltic offers flights to/from 10 airports – Helsinki, Oulu, Lappeenranta, Turku, Tampere, Vaasa, Kuusamo, Kuopio, Rovaniemi and Kittila.

airBaltic serves 80 destinations from its home base in Riga, Latvia. From every one of these, airBaltic offers convenient connections via North Hub Riga to its network spanning Europe, Scandinavia, Russia, CIS and the Middle East.

Oulu, located in the North-Western Finland, is the second busiest airport in Finland, offering regular connections to 6 destinations, Riga, Turku, Tampere, Stockholm, Tallinnand Helsinki, as well as 250 charter flights per year. The total amount of passengers served bythe Oulu airport is 700 000 annually. The Oulu airport is currently undergoing an extensive expansion program, which doubles the passenger capacity. The city of Oulu is one of the most important business, research and educational centers in Finland and the biggestin the Northern Scandinavia.

airBalticin brief:

AIR BALTIC CORPORATION (airBaltic) is a joint stock company that was established in 1995. The primary shareholders are the Latvian state, with 52.6% of stock, and SIA Baltijas aviācijas sistēmas, with 47.2% of stock. The airBaltic fleet consists of 33 aircraft – ten Boeing 737-500, eight Boeing 737-300, two Boeing 757-200, ten Fokker 50 airplanes and three Bombardier Q400Next Gen. airBaltic offers nonstop flights from three Baltic capital cities – Riga, Vilnius, and Tallinn. airBaltic received the title of Airline of the Year 2009/2010 (Gold Award) from the European Regions Airline Association. airBaltic is the winner of Air Transport World Phoenix Award 2010 – a global recognition of excellence in restructuring business. airBaltic was chosen for anna.aero ANNIES Award as Europes largest flag carrier by new routes.