The Latvian airline airBaltic in October celebrates its 22 nd anniversary since the launch of commercial operations. On October 1, 1995 airBaltic operated the first commercial flight from Riga to Stockholm with the aircraft SAAB 340. Here are gathered 22 interesting facts about airBaltic.
1. The first airBaltic aircraft was a Saab 340, with just 33 seats.
2. The total distance of airBaltic flights has reached 530 million kilometres, which is enough to fly to Mars and back three times.
3. There are 30 employees that are working at airBaltic since the establishment of the airline.
4. Back when airBaltic just had four aircraft in its disposal, they were named after the four
historical regions of Latvia – Zemgale, Latgale, Vidzeme and Kurzeme.
5. During flight, airBaltic passengers have purchased four automobiles.
6. airBaltic sold its first on-line ticket in 2004. The average number of tickets booked on-line in 2004 was 20 per day, but today it has reached over 1 500 per day.
7. Three years ago, airBaltic became the world’s first airline to accept Bitcoin as payment for its tickets.
8. airBaltic operates direct flights to 11 destinations from Vilnius and Tallinn airports.
9. Currently at airBaltic work 1 350 professionals from 30 different countries.
10. The Dalai Lama and many world leaders have flown with airBaltic, as well as penguins and even a Leonardo da Vinci self-portrait.
11. airBaltic has been recognized as the world’s most punctual airline for several years in a
row.
12. The first seven new Bombardier CS300 aircraft arrived in Riga directly from the company’s production plant in Canada.
13. 22 years ago, the price of a one-way ticket to Copenhagen was starting from LVL 66, or
more than 90 euros.
14. Next summer, airBaltic will launch direct flights to Lisbon, Malaga and Split.
15. The airline’s new Bombardier CS300 aircraft ensure 21% less fuel consumption.
16. This summer, airBaltic transported on average 350,000 passengers per month.
17. Over the past 22 years, airBaltic has conducted direct flights to over 110 destinations.
18. The farthest airBaltic destination from Riga is Abu Dhabi and it is 4 350 kilometres away.
19. airBaltic is the first airline in the world that started commercial operations with Bombardier CS300 aircraft.
20. During the past 22 years, airBaltic has transported over 35 million passengers.
21. Today, every fourth airBaltic passenger is transported on one of the airline’s new
Bombardier CS300 aircraft.
22. The farthest flight to Liepaja bought in airBaltic homepage was from Vladivostok
