airBaltic and EL AL launch codeshare agreement, expanding Israel–Europe connectivity

Latvian carrier airBaltic and EL AL Israel Airlines have signed a new codeshare agreement that will take effect on 1 July 2026, enhancing travel options between Israel, the Baltics and Northern Europe.

Under the partnership, EL AL will place its flight code on airBaltic’s services between Riga and Tel Aviv, as well as on connecting flights from Riga to ten European destinations: Copenhagen, Frankfurt, Helsinki, Munich, Oslo, Stockholm, Tallinn, Vienna, Vilnius and Zurich. This will allow passengers to book seamless itineraries between Tel Aviv and these cities via Riga.

In return, airBaltic will place its code on EL AL-operated flights from Tel Aviv to Amsterdam, Vienna, Munich, Frankfurt, Milan, Berlin and Zurich, providing additional one-stop travel options for passengers travelling to or from Riga.

The agreement strengthens Riga’s role as a regional hub linking Israel with the Baltics and Northern Europe. According to airBaltic, the partnership is supported by growing tourism, business ties and family connections between the regions.

The codeshare announcement follows airBaltic’s decision to resume direct Riga–Tel Aviv flights on 1 July 2026. The route will operate three times weekly, subject to ongoing safety assessments and compliance with recommendations from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency and insurer requirements.

For EL AL, the deal adds to a growing network of airline partnerships and complements its recent expansion efforts, which have included the addition of multiple new destinations and cooperation agreements with several major international carriers.