airBaltic is celebrating its 31st anniversary after carrying its 70 millionth passenger since the Latvian airline was established in 1995.
The carrier was founded on 28 August 1995 through a joint venture between the Latvian state and Scandinavian Airlines. Its first commercial flight operated from Riga to Stockholm on 1 October 1995 using a 33-seat Saab 340.
Since then, airBaltic has expanded across Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania, developing a network of more than 80 destinations in Europe and beyond. The airline says its operations support tourism, business activity and wider economic development across the Baltic region.
Partnerships have also become an important part of the carrier’s network. airBaltic currently works with 26 codeshare partners, giving passengers access to more than 200 destinations worldwide.
The 70-million-passenger milestone comes as the airline adapts its operations and fleet under a new demand-led business plan intended to improve efficiency and long-term financial sustainability.