Countries in northern Europe are coming increasingly closer together in terms of economy, culture, and politics, building their ties on a common heritage that stretches far back in history. We in airBaltic have been part of this development for many years, providing ever tighter links between ever more destinations in the region. Kuopio in Finland, Aalesund in Norway, and Billund Denmark are our latest additions to our regional route-map. In Western Europe, we will start to fly to Venice and Nice, both located in the South. Both cities offer a wide choice of cultural sites and seaside resorts for the leisure traveller (... not to forget French or Italian wines and culinary delights!), while both are also highly interesting for the business traveller. One of airBaltic’s main development goals has been to make countries in the East, including the Caucasus region and Central Asia, easily accessible. We have started some years ago with operations to Azerbaijan and Georgia; some months ago we added Uzbekistan and Moldova. Now we take the next step by opening flights to Sochi in Russia, Almaty in Kazakhstan and Yerevan in Armenia. Not only are these three cities located in three widely different countries, they also greatly differ from each other when it comes to history, language, religion, and population. Still, there are a number of common traits that make all three interesting for both businessmen and tourists. Sochi, the site of the next Winter Olympics, will during the next years receive massive investments in infrastructure, hotels, and other facilities related to this event. At the same time, Sochi has been one of the main seaside resorts of Russia for many decades, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors yearly from all over Eastern Europe to its shore. Sochi will be transformed in the coming years, but it will also retain its age-old charm. Sochi is well known to the Eastern aficionados but has yet to be discovered by the Westerners. Almaty in Kazakhstan is an altogether different place, lying right in the middle of a country larger than Continental Europe. It is the centre of the region’s gas industry, while holding innumerable surprises in store for the tourist wanting to break out of the traditional mould. Looking for something new, exciting, one should visit this country now, a country in many ways still unspoiled. Armenia, with its capital Yerevan, is strategically situated in the Southern Caucasus. Also here the future has started to make its entrance, with the noise from construction sites competing with the sounds of bells from old Christian churches. In Yerevan, road traffic easily competes in intensity with any of the larger cities in the West, while its many parks offer the peace of mind one only finds east of the Bosporus. This spring, airBaltic will start to outfit its entire jet-fleet with new lighter and slimmer seats, which provide in addition to increased seating comfort, passengers with more leg-room. Business passengers will be seated two by two, meaning that the middle seat will always be blocked (and used as an extra table), armrests will be wider. We see this investment, upwards of four Million Euros, as only one more step in our efforts to make your experience of flying with airBaltic an enjoyable one. Have an enjoyable flight! Bertolt Flick
President and CEO |
