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Jul 28, 2020 (newstodate): Latvia's Liepaja Airport is thriving on the growing activities of airBaltic's Pilot Academy.
    Following on the completion of the long process of airport reconstruction works and certification, Liepaja Airport, 210 km west of Riga, was reopened for non-commercial aviation services from May 26, 2016, and fully open for regular commercial traffic from September 19 in the same year.
   The reconstruction comprised renovation of the 2,002 m runway, widening of the single taxiway, construction of the apron accommodating three C-class aircraft parking stands, installation of new airfield lighting systems, and drainage of runway and taxiway.   
   Liepaja Airport is housing the airBaltic Pilot Academy with facilities planned for more than 15 airBaltic Pilot Academy training aircraft, a dedicated hangar completed by the end 2019, and a workshop for Diamond aircraft technical maintenance now certified as an Authorized Diamond Aircraft Service Center.
   Last week, airBaltic Training received its eighth single-engine DA40 NG training aircraft from Diamond Aircraft and will add two more aircraft in 2021.  
   Taking in its first batch of students in 2018, airBaltic Pilot Academy has now opened the application process for new student groups in 2020 and 2021.
   airBaltic returned to Liepaja with the first flight from Riga on May 16, 2017, after a long period of absence.
    The carrier first opened domestic flights from Riga to Liepaja in September 2005, adding services from Liepaja to Hamburg and Copenhagen from May 9, 2007, even airing plans for connections to Stockholm, Oslo and Helsinki as well.   
   Flights from Liepaja to Copenhagen and Hamburg were continued until October 18, 2008, but flights on the domestic route from Liepaja to Riga were suspended after October 1, 2008, already.