airBaltic reshapes for profit

06.03.2012 16:10 | Latvia

Author: Janis Vanags
Source: Air Baltic Corporation

Latvian airline airBaltic today (6.03.2012) announced a business reshaping plan to return the airline to profitability and sustainable future development at North Hub Riga, which links the Baltic region with destinations in Europe, Middle East and Russia/CIS.

Martin Gauss, Chief Executive Officer of airBaltic: “In the past few years airBaltic achieved unprecedented growth that turned Riga into the only functioning transit hub in the Baltic region. However, it came at a cost to the airline. airBaltic has now been stabilised. Currently, we are focusing on reshaping our business, to achieve improvements of LVL 330 million in the next five years, and return to profitability in 2014.”

Reklāma

The new business plan, airBaltic ReShape, outlines the future development of the carrier, including the fleet modernisation, cost optimisation, operational efficiency, revenue enhancement and network improvements. By implementing airBaltic ReShape, the carrier plans improvements of LVL 330 million in the five years 2012-2016. airBalticReShape aims to return the carrier to profitability in 2014.

airBaltic will modernise its fleet to operate two types of aircraft in the future – Bombardier Q400 Next Gen turboprop for regional flights, and either Airbus 319 or Boeing 737 New Generation. The modernised fleet will allow airBaltic to operate more efficiently and retain focus on affordable tickets to Europe, Middle East, Russia/CIS, and increase flight frequencies to the highly demanded destinations.

airBaltic serves 60 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.

airBalticin brief:

AIR BALTIC CORPORATION (airBaltic) is a joint stock company that was established in 1995. The primary shareholder is Latvian state with 99.8% of stock. The airBaltic fleet consists of 34 aircraft – six Boeing 737-500, eight Boeing 737-300, two Boeing 757-200, ten Fokker 50 airplanes and eight 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 won a special Pacesetter Award 2010 from the Jury of the Budgies World Low Cost Airline Awards, recognising achievements of airBaltic as a hybrid airline.