Latvian carrier airBaltic has unveiled plans to expand its winter 2026/27 network with 12 new routes, strengthening connectivity across Europe. The schedule, running from late October 2026 to March 2027, will see new services from Riga (RIX), Gran Canaria (LPA), Tenerife (TFS) and Kuusamo (KAO).
Focus on Leisure and Seasonal Demand
The airline will also reinforce its seasonal base at LPA and establish a new base at TFS, while introducing weekend-focused operations from KAO aimed at winter tourism demand.
Among the additions, airBaltic will connect RIX with KAO from Dec. 11, operating once weekly. From LPA, new twice-weekly services will launch to Warsaw (WAW), Poznań (POZ) and Katowice (KTW), alongside Liege (LGG).
From TFS, airBaltic will introduce routes to LGG, Ljubljana (LJU) and Palanga (PLQ), with frequencies ranging from once to twice weekly. Meanwhile, KAO will see new outbound links to Berlin (BER), Hamburg (HAM), Manchester (MAN) and London Gatwick (LGW), all operating once weekly from mid-December.
Mantas Vrubliauskas, VP Network Management, said winter remains a key travel period, particularly for leisure passengers seeking both sun and snow destinations. He noted that early planning allows airlines to align capacity with demand trends.
Strategic Growth Across Europe
The network expansion reflects a dual strategy: increasing access to southern European holiday destinations while also tapping into Nordic winter tourism, including ski travel and seasonal experiences.
The move marks a broader effort by airBaltic to diversify its route network and strengthen its presence in key leisure markets. The addition of a Tenerife base signals growing demand in the Canary Islands, while new KAO routes highlight rising interest in Lapland travel.
The airline said the routes will operate with its single-type fleet of Airbus A220-300 aircraft, supporting operational consistency across the network.
Industry analysts note that such seasonal expansions are increasingly common as airlines adjust schedules to shifting travel patterns, particularly in the post-pandemic market where leisure demand continues to outperform business travel.
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