newstodate.aero

Nov 25, 2021 (newstodate): The Latvian carrier airBaltic has entered a new code-share agreement - its 25th - with the Gulf carrier Emirates.
   The agreement provides airBaltic customers from Riga, Tallinn, Vilnius and Helsinki with seamless access to Emirates' worldwide network via its hub in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates.
   airBaltic launched services between Riga and Dubai on September 27, 2021, operating four weekly rotations between Riga and Dubai using Airbus A220-300 aircraft.
   The carrier made its first entry in the Gulf market with twice-weekly Boeing 757-200 services from Riga to Dubai from October 2008 till April 2012.   
   On December 16, 2013, airBaltic returned to the region with flights four times weekly on the route between Riga and Abu Dhabi using an Airbus A319 aircraft on an ACMI contract with the Czech carrier CSA; however, this operation proved unprofitable, and only the introduction of the Airbus A220-300 made a resumption of services feasible.
    The route between Riga and Abu Dhabi was reopened on October 29, 2017, served by airBaltic with four weekly rotations between the two destinations under a code-share agreement with Etihad Airways during the winter schedule, but flights were suspended as the Covid-19 pandemic spread.