newstodate.aero
Aug 24, 2016 (newstodate): Statistics on passengers volumes carried by Russian airlines during January-July 2016 show a sound recovery in international flights after a long period of crisis.
This positive trend is felt also by one carrier traditionally strong in the Russian market, Latvia's airBaltic.
At its peak, airBaltic's services from Riga Airport to Russia comprised flights to destinations including Pskov, Sochi and Kaliningrad in addition to Moscow and St Petersburg, and plans to open flights to Yekaterinburg from June 3, 2014, were close to materializing but aborted by the deepening crisis over Ukraine.
-Before the crisis set in, Russia was airBaltic's single largest market outside the Baltic region. During the crisis, this position was taken over by Germany, but signs are that Russia is recovering and gaining in importance again, says Janis Vanags, airBaltic VP Communications.
-On some routes to Russia our frequencies have doubled, and we are evaluating adding again more Russian destinations to our notwork while no decisions have yet been made.
-With Riga Airport as our hub, we are in a favorable position to serve as a prime transit option between Russia and Europe, and with the opening of facilities in the new terminal to be commissioned over the coming few weeks this situation will improve further, says Mr Vanags.
This positive trend is felt also by one carrier traditionally strong in the Russian market, Latvia's airBaltic.
At its peak, airBaltic's services from Riga Airport to Russia comprised flights to destinations including Pskov, Sochi and Kaliningrad in addition to Moscow and St Petersburg, and plans to open flights to Yekaterinburg from June 3, 2014, were close to materializing but aborted by the deepening crisis over Ukraine.
-Before the crisis set in, Russia was airBaltic's single largest market outside the Baltic region. During the crisis, this position was taken over by Germany, but signs are that Russia is recovering and gaining in importance again, says Janis Vanags, airBaltic VP Communications.
-On some routes to Russia our frequencies have doubled, and we are evaluating adding again more Russian destinations to our notwork while no decisions have yet been made.
-With Riga Airport as our hub, we are in a favorable position to serve as a prime transit option between Russia and Europe, and with the opening of facilities in the new terminal to be commissioned over the coming few weeks this situation will improve further, says Mr Vanags.