airBaltic
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| Founded | 1995 | |||
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| Hubs | Riga International Airport | |||
| Frequent-flyer program | Baltic Miles | |||
| Fleet size | 26 | |||
| Destinations | 74 | |||
| Parent company | Government of Latvia | |||
| Headquarters | Riga International Airport Mārupe municipality, Latvia |
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| Key people | Martin Gauss (CEO) | |||
| Revenue |  €292,4 million (2010) |
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| Profit |  €51,3 million (2010) |
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| Website | www.airbaltic.com | |||
A/S Air Baltic Corporation, operating as AirBaltic and styled as airBaltic, is the Latvian flag carrier airline and a low-cost carrier, with its head office on the grounds of Riga International Airport in Mārupe municipality, near the capital, Riga.[1] Its main hub is at Riga International Airport. It has been state owned since 30 November 2011.
AirBaltic is the first national flag carrier airline marketed as a low-cost airline.
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[edit] History
The airline was established on 28 August 1995 with the signing of a joint venture between Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) and the Latvian state. Operations started on 1 October 1995 with the arrival of the first Air Baltic aircraft, a Saab 340, at Riga, and that afternoon, the plane made the first passenger flight for Air Baltic.[2]
In 1996, the airline's first Avro RJ70 was delivered; and Air Baltic joined the SAS frequent flier club as a partner. 1997 saw the opening of a cargo department and, in 1998, the airline's first Fokker 50 plane was delivered. The adopted livery was mainly white, with the name of the airline written in blue on the forward fuselage, the 'B' logo being heavily stylized in blue checks. The checker blue pattern was repeated on the aircraft tailfin.
In 1999, Air Baltic became a joint stock company; it was previously a limited liability company.[3] All of their Saab 340s were replaced by Fokker 50s. By September, the airline had begun operating under the European Aviation Operating Standards, or JAR ops. Air Baltic welcomed the new millennium by introducing new uniforms and opening a cargo center at Riga's airport.
The first Boeing 737-500 joined the fleet in 2003, and on 1 June 2004, Air Baltic launched services from the Lithuanian capital, Vilnius, initially to five destinations. In October 2004, Air Baltic was rebranded as AirBaltic. Their present livery consists of an all-white fuselage and lime tailfin. AirBaltic.com is displayed on the forward upper fuselage, and the word "Baltic" is repeated in blue on the lower part of the tailfin. In December 2006, the first Boeing 737-300 joined the fleet and was configured with winglets. In July 2007, AirBaltic introduced an online check-in system.[4] It was the first online check-in system in the Baltic states. In Spring 2008, two long-haul Boeing 757 joined the existing AirBaltic fleet. On 10 March 2008, it was announced that in the next three years the airline would acquire new aircraft, experiencing the largest fleet expansion in the company's history. The new additions will be next generation Q400 aircraft.
AirBaltic previously had strong links with SAS, which owned 47.2% of the airline until January 2009. It operates frequent flights to SAS hubs in Copenhagen, Oslo and Stockholm. The airline formerly used the SAS EuroBonus frequent flyer programme, but now has its own: BalticMiles. Some products and services are still shared with SAS, including coordinated timetabling and shared airport lounges. AirBaltic is not a member of any airline alliance. At the moment, however, codeshare agreements are in place with several Star Alliance airlines and others.
It previously had secondary hubs at Vilnius International Airport and Lennart Meri Tallinn Airport.[5] The majority of the routes commenced from Tallinn were cancelled shortly after opening, leading to complaints from the Estonian Consumer Protection Department.[6] On 23 September 2010, AirBaltic made an announcement to establish a new secondary hub at Oulu Airport.[7][8] In 2011 the plans of the hub at Oulu Airport are probably cancelled said the director of Finavia in Finland.[9]
As at December 2010, AirBaltic employed 1443 people.
[edit] Ownership and financial problems in 2011
In January 2009, SAS sold its entire stake in the company (47.2% of the airline) to Baltijas aviācijas sistēmas Ltd (BAS) for 14 million lats. BAS was wholly owned by Bertolt Flick (President and CEO) until December 2010, when 50% of BAS shares were transferred to Taurus Asset Management Fund Limited, registered in the Bahamas.[10]
In August 2011, airBaltic has requested more than 60 million lats in capital as its losses continued to mount,[11] and has suffered speculation about its financial position[12][13][14][15] and political scandals throughout 2011.[16][17] In mid September 2011, the company announced plans to lay-off around half its employees and cancel around 700 flights a month to avoid possible grounding.[18][19] The company also announced that a mystery investor was willing to pay 9.6 million euros for additional 59,110 shares.[20] On 4 October 2011, the plans were annulled in order to make the necessary investments in the airline's capital. The government of Latvia and Baltijas aviācijas sistēmas Ltd. agreed to invest around 100 million lats in the airline's share capital in proportion to their stakes in airBaltic.[21][22] In connection with the agreement, Bertolt Flick stepped down as long-term President and CEO of the airline. Martin Gauss, former CEO of Hungarian airline Malev, became the new CEO of AirBaltic.[23]
Following the collapse of a bank linked with a finance package negotiated for the airline, the Latvian state increased its shareholding to 99.8% of the total on 30 November 2011. [24] [25]
[edit] Destinations
AirBaltic operates 72 direct flights from Riga (some of them are seasonal), as well as non-stop flights on the routes Oulu–Turku and Vaasa–Umeå.
[edit]
AirBaltic has codeshare agreements with the following airlines (as of 19 December 2011[update]):
[edit] Awards
The Latvian airline airBaltic was chosen for anna.aero ANNIES Award in 2010[26] as Europe's largest flag carrier by new routes. In Europe, CIS and the Middle East airBaltic has operated 27 routes more in the summer season of 2010, compared to summer 2009.[27] In the summer season of 2011 airBaltic announced three new destinations – Budapest, Gdansk and Bari.[28]
[edit] Inflight services
On some flights, AirBaltic offers a buy on board menu offering food and drinks for purchase.[29]
[edit] Fleet
[edit] Current fleet
As of January 2011, the AirBaltic fleet consists of the following aircraft with an average age of 16 years:[30]
| Aircraft | Photo | In Service | Orders | Options | Seats | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boeing 737-300SP |  |
8 | — | — | 142/144/146 | |
| Boeing 737-500 |  |
6 | — | — | 120 | |
| Boeing 757-200WL |  |
2 | — | — | 206 | One available for wet-lease for transatlantic flights[31] during winter period |
| Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 NextGen |  |
8 | — | 5 | 76 | |
| Fokker F50 |  |
3 | — | — | 46/50/52 | All to leave during 3rd and 4th quarter 2012 and 2 leased. |
| Total | 27 | 0 | 5 |
[edit] Retired fleet
| Aircraft | Total | Operated |
|---|---|---|
| Saab 340 | 2 | 1995–1999 |
| Avro RJ70 | 3 | 1996–2005 |
| Boeing 737-500 | 5 | 2003–2010 |
| Fokker 50 | 4 | 2005–2006 (All to be phased out starting with 5 from October 2011) |
[edit] References
- ^ "airBaltic in Riga." AirBaltic. Retrieved on 16 January 2010. "Air Baltic Corporation AS Registration number: 40003245752 ADMINISTRATION RIGA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT Marupes county, LV-1053, Latvia"
- ^ Company history
- ^ "Company history." AirBaltic. Retrieved on 22 November 2011.
- ^ Press releases
- ^ "Opening of Tallinn Base". http://www.easier.com/68507-airbaltic-to-open-tallinn-base.html.
- ^ "Warning About Cancellation of Flights From Tallinn".
- ^ "Air Baltic Setting up Oulu Hub". YLE News. Helsinki: Yleisradio Oy. 23 September 2010. http://www.yle.fi/uutiset/news/2010/09/air_baltic_setting_up_oulu_hub_2004336.html. Retrieved 23 September 2010.
- ^ "airBaltic to Open a New Hub in Oulu, Finland". Riga: A/S Air Baltic Corporation. 23 September 2010. http://www.airbaltic.com/public/45198.html. Retrieved 23 September 2010.
- ^ http://www.kaleva.fi/uutiset/talous/pekka-mantynen-air-balticin-velkasaaneeraus-taysi-yllatys/912466
- ^ Changes in airBaltic shareholders structure
- ^ AirBaltic in need of massive investment as losses mount
- ^ Antonov: airBaltic will continue its business
- ^ Tallinn Airport: airBaltic owes us money
- ^ Bookinghouse stops selling tickets to airBaltic flights
- ^ airBaltic starts cancelling flights
- ^ Former Latvian president unleashed on the head of airBaltic corruption fighters
- ^ Suspected illegal activity haunts airBaltic
- ^ airBaltic starts massive layoffs
- ^ Update: AirBaltic cancels flights through December
- ^ Breaking news: airBaltic sells shares, cancels flights
- ^ Agreement officially signed on bail out of airBaltic
- ^ Latvian government approves airBaltic deal
- ^ Martin Gauss confirmed as new CEO of airBaltic
- ^ [1]
- ^ [2]
- ^ anna.aero. "Introducing the Euro annies – proper awards based on science, statistics and evidence". anna.aero Airline News & Analysis. http://www.anna.aero/2010/05/12/the-euro-annies/.
- ^ Riga (13.05.2010). "airBaltic Awarded as Europe’s Largest Flag Carrier by New Routes". airBaltic. http://www.airbaltic.com/public/43869.html.
- ^ Riga (18.05.2011). "airBaltic Adds Flights to Warsaw, Gdansk and Bari in Summer". airBaltic. http://www.airbaltic.com/public/47078.html.
- ^ "airCafe." AirBaltic. Accessed 30 October 2008.
- ^ AirBaltic fleet list at planespotters.net
- ^ [3]
[edit] External links
Media related to AirBaltic at Wikimedia Commons
- Official website
- Official website (Latvian)
- Air Baltic Travel
- airBalticcard mobile — free roaming in more than 120 countries
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