Company history |
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2012
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January |
airBaltic carried over 3.3 million passengers in 2011, load factor increased by 6 pp;
airBaltic nominated Best for Punctuality in Europe;
airBaltic recognised as Top Employer in Latvia.
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March |
airBaltic 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. |
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April |
airBaltic concluded a cooperation agreement with AirFrance, including code-sharing of flights. AirFrance offers convenient connections via its Paris hub to and from destinations worldwide;
BalticMiles, a multi-partner loyalty programme created by the Latvian national airline airBaltic, has been recognized as amongst the best loyalty programmes globally, winning two Freddie awards. |
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May |
airBaltic has been selected amongst the world’s Top 10 most innovative airlines by Airlinetrends.com;
According to study commissioned by IATA, the International Air Transport Association, the aviation industry plays a key role in Latvia‘s trade and economy. According to the study, undertaken by Oxford Economics, aviation accounts for 2.0 % of Latvia‘s GDP, and the industry supports jobs for 2.0 % of workforce in the country. |
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June |
airBaltic launches Mobile Check-in |
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July |
airBaltic brings 7 millionth transit passenger;
airBaltic Signs Letter of Intent for up to 20 Bombardier CSeries Airliners. |
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September |
airberlin and airBaltic start codeshare flights |
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December |
airBaltic Signs Firm Order for up to 20 CSeries Airliners |
2011
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January |
airBaltic carries over 3 million passengers in 2010, for the first time in history the airline’s annual passenger number exceeds 3 million
airBaltic launches new iPhone service
airBaltic completes introduction of eight Bombardier Q400 NextGen aircraft to its fleet. The modernised fleet consists of 34 aircraft
airBaltic recognized as top employer in Latvia in a nationwide survey |
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February |
airBaltic Training becomes the EU’s only IATA Regional Training Centre |
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May |
airBaltic Hosts the Largest Aviation Conference in Northern Europe – North Hub Riga Conference airBaltic selected best in public relations in the Baltic Region |
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June |
airBaltic becomes the world’s first airline to sell tickets onboard |
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October |
airBaltic supervisory board chooses Martin Gauss as new CEO |
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December |
Latvian government increases its shareholding in airBaltic to 99.8%
airBaltic becomes the world’s first airline to sell cars on board
Latvian government approves future development of airBaltic and invests LVL 57.6 million |
2010
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January |
airBaltic carries 2,757, 404 passengers in 2009, acts as engine of the growth for the Baltics
airBaltic wins ATW’s Phoenix Award |
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February |
airBaltic starts airBaltic Training centre in Riga |
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March |
airBaltic has the world’s first tweet-up at route inauguration |
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April |
airBaltic paints EU flags on its aircraft
Swedish government chooses airBaltic as official carrier |
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May |
airBaltic opens BalticMiles superstore
airBaltic receives anna.aero ANNIES Award as Europe’s largest flag carrier by new routes |
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June |
Flight tickets go on sale in Finnish kiosks for the first time in history, an initiative of airBaltic
As the first airline in the world, airBaltic offers roses 11 km up in the sky
airBaltic hosts international aviation conference „North Hub Riga”
airBaltic and TAV sign a memorandum of understanding for building of new terminal
airBaltic launches Baltic Bike, the first self-service bike rental in the Baltics |
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August |
airBaltic recognised as Latvia’s leading exporter |
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September |
airBaltic nominated for international award for excellence in social media
125 architectural concepts received for new airBaltic terminal |
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October |
airBaltic celebrates 15th anniversary
airBaltic first in Europe to introduce Apple iPads
airBaltic introduces online booking for cargo |
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November |
airBaltic opens office in Tbilisi, Georgia
BalticMiles has issued over half a billion points in a year |
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December |
airBaltic Recognized as Top 10 Innovator Among Airlines by airlinetrends.com
airBaltic introduces Nespresso coffee in flights |
2009
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January |
airBaltic management purchases SAS shares in the airline
Danish government chooses airBaltic as official carrier for flights
airBaltic management purchases SAS shares in the airline |
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April |
Baltic Taxi established in Riga
airBaltic hosts the first international conference on global trends in aviation in Riga, known as North Hub Riga Conference airBaltic introduces a scheme to refund tickets for passengers who lose jobs |
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June |
IATA member airlines set their prices in euros in Latvia Mārtiņš Rītiņš creates airBaltic business class menu, based on organic food |
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July |
airBaltic opens travel agency on internet airBalticTravel.com |
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August |
Finnish government chooses airBaltic as official carrier |
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October |
airBaltic announced ERA Airline of the Year Gold award winner airBaltic launches first pan-Baltic loyalty program, Baltic Miles |
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November |
German government chooses airBaltic as official carrier |
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December |
Austrian and Swiss governments choose airBaltic as official carrier airBaltic brings 4,000,000th passenger to Riga airport |
2008
| February 4 |
airBaltic opens the second office in the downtown Riga. |
| March |
airBaltic announces the Largest Fleet Expansion in the Baltic Region by adding Bombardier and Boeing 757 aircraft to its fleet. |
| March 24 |
airBaltic Completes Introduction of e-Ticket. |
| March 30 |
airBaltic starts the summer season with 10 new destinations, including Almaty – the longest route in the network up-to-date. |
| April 8 |
The first Boeing 757-200 joins the fleet. |
| June |
The deliveries of additional aircraft for the year 2008 completed. The airBaltic fleet consists of two Boeing 757-200, ten 120-seater Boeing 737-500, six 149-seater Boeing 737-300 and eight 50-seater Fokker 50, in total - 26 aircraft. |
| October 26 |
airBaltic starts the winter season with four new destinations. |
| December 10 |
airBaltic opens an office in Tallinn. |
2007
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February |
airBaltic opens a representative office in St.Petersburg, Russia. |
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April |
Four Boeing 737 join the fleet. The fleet consists of 20 aircraft: 12 Boeing 737 and eight Fokker 50. |
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May |
airBaltic commences regular operations out of Liepāja, Courland region in Latvia. |
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June |
airBalticcard Mobile, a pre-paid phone card, introduced. |
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July |
airBaltic launches online check-in system. |
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September 1 |
airBaltic opens Vilnius – Chisinau route, the first in a series of East-bound routes from Lithuania. |
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September 9 |
airBaltic starts training Boeing 737 pilots at a simulator at its home base in Riga. |
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October 30 |
airBaltic launches the E-voucher – the first prepaid airline ticket in the Baltic States and Northern Europe to be sold in supermarkets. |
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November 6 |
airBaltic moves closer to its home market by opening an office in Daugavpils, Eastern Latvia. |
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November 26 |
airBaltic congratulates the 10 000th passenger to use online check-in just 3 months after the launch of the service. |
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December 19 |
airBaltic congratulates its two millionth passenger in Vilnius. |
2006
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September 18 |
The millionth passenger of the year carried by airBaltic. |
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December |
airBaltic adds another Boeing 737 to its fleet. |
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December |
airBaltic closes the year with 4.305 m LVL net profit. |
2005
| February 1 |
7th Boeing 737 joins airBaltic fleet. |
| April 6 |
airBaltic opens representative office in Berlin. |
| July 1 |
1st anniversary since airBaltic has started operations from Vilnius, Lithuania. |
| October 1 |
airBaltic celebrates the 10th anniversary of commencing its operations in Latvia. |
| November 28 |
airBaltic becomes General Sales Agent for Singapore Airlines Cargo in Latvia. |
| November 28 |
airBaltic adds two more Fokker 50 aircraft to its fleet . Fleet consists of 16 aircraft: 7 Boeing 737 and 9 Fokker 50 |
| December 15 |
airBaltic carries its millionth passenger. For the first time in its history the airline has carried over a million passengers in a year. |
2004
| February 12 |
2nd Boeing 737 joins BT fleet. |
| February 17 |
6th Fokker 50 joins BT fleet. |
| April 2 |
3rd Boeing 737 joins BT fleet. |
| June 1 |
airBaltic opens a hub in Vilnius and starts direct flights to a number of European destinations. airBaltic is the first airline in the Baltic states to take advantage of the opening of the aviation market following EU – accession and start operation from another state. |
| June 4 |
4th Boeing 737 joins BT fleet. |
| October 26 |
5th Boeing 737 joins BT fleet. |
| October 27 |
airBaltic introduces new corporate livery. |
| December 17 |
6th Boeing 737 joins BT fleet. |
| December |
airBaltic overall net result for 2004 amounted to EUR 1,2 million (LVL 850 000) loss. |
2003
| April 1 |
airBaltic implements a new pricing structure – one way ticket concept. The price of tickets directly depends on demand. The traditional "Sunday rule" does not apply. |
| April 20 |
airBaltic launches ticket sales from the company's website via Internet. |
| September |
New staff uniforms are introduced. |
| November |
The fifth airBaltic aircraft Fokker 50 is delivered to Riga. |
| November 24 |
First Boeing 737-500 is introduced into airBaltic fleet and operations. |
| December |
airBaltic closes 2003 with 1,1 Million Lats (EUR 1.63 million) profit after taxes. |
2002
| September |
The fourth airBaltic aircraft Fokker 50 is delivered to Riga. |
| December |
airBaltic closes 2002 with 406 Thousand Lats (EUR 675 000) profit after taxes. |
2001
| June |
airBaltic carries 1 millionth passenger. |
| October 30 |
SAS purchases shares owned by Swedfund International AB-6,5%, IØ Danish Investment Fund for Central and Eastern Europe – 6,5%. New shareholder structure: Latvian State 52,6% SAS – 47.2 %, Transaero – 0.2%. |
| December |
In 2001, for the first time in its history, airBaltic posts profit, after taxes, of USD 88 thousand. (56 000 LVL). |
2000
| April |
Presentation of airBaltic new uniform. |
| June |
“Baltic Cargo Center” was founded. The joint venture between airBaltic. SAS and Globe Ground build and operate a modern cargo-handling terminal in Riga Airport. |
| November 10 |
airBaltic receives Latvian Quality Award 2000 for Business excellence.
airBaltic receives status Well Connected with SAS. |
1999
| January 25 |
airBaltic registers change of the legal status – from Limited Liability company to Joint stock company (SIA – A/S). |
| June 3 |
SAAB 340 aircraft are taken out of operations and fully replaced by Fokker 50. |
| September |
airBaltic introduces operations in compliance with common European aviation operational standards (JAR Ops). |
1998
| November |
The first airBaltic Fokker 50 arrives in Riga. |
1997
| April 1 |
airBaltic opens Cargo Department. |
1996
| January 24 |
The first airBaltic AVRO RJ70 arrives in Riga. |
| July 5 |
airBaltic joins SAS EuroBonus Program. |
1995
| August 28 |
airBaltic Joint Venture Agreement Signed. AIR BALTIC CORPORATION SIA Shareholders: Latvian State 51%, SAS- 29%, Baltic International USA – 8%, Swedfund International AB-6%, IØ Danish Investment Fund for Central and Eastern Europe. |
| October 1 |
First airBaltic flight. First airBaltic SAAB 340 arrives in Riga. | |
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