After a few months off (that turned into almost four years), I've got back into the swing of things....
After a few months off (that turned into almost four years), I've got back into the swing of things... concentrating mostly on travel reviews this time around.
Member since:28.07.2000
Reviews:155
Members who trust:38
I recently flew with Air Baltic for the first time, taking advantage of their low fares and regular connections between the capitals of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia to shuttle between the three countries in three days. Since achieving independence in the early 1990s, the Baltic nations have all steadily developed their own airlines - however, it is probably Air Baltic that has achieved the most in terms of brand recognition and market share, and the choice of name alone suggests an intention to become the leading player in the Baltic market.
Established in 1995, Air Baltic is steadily expanding its route network and fleet of aircraft as it grows to meet the increasing demand for business and leisure travel both to and within the Baltic states. The Latvian national carrier uses Riga as its main hub
and services 46 destinations from the capital city, and flies to 20 cities across Europe from Vilnius in Lithuania as well. In addition to this, the current strategy seems to involve expanding the domestic network in Latvia, as Liepaja and Ventspils can now be reached by air from Riga. Interestingly, Air Baltic has also crossed a border that many airlines have chosen to ignore, as it links Kaliningrad directly with Copenhagen, and is one of the few airlines to operate out of this Russian exclave.
The most positive effect of this increase in options when travelling to and from the Baltics is of course that it has driven down prices for flights from other airlines. Until fairly recently, major carriers such as Lufthansa could charge relatively high fares to the region but now a direct local competitor has entered the market, with the pleasant result that destinations such as Tallinn and Riga are included in the regular 'Europe for €99' special offers.
The Air Baltic website (www.airbaltic.com) makes it very easy to peruse the flight schedules and book online - the route map takes pride of place on the main screen alongside the calendar and the flight planner. Navigation around the site is very easy and it is simple to access any information that you need, plus you can log on to the secure members' area or check in online. The side bar contains links to new destinations, group tickets, special offers (such as the Baltic Pass: if you have a return flight booked to and from one of the Baltic capitals, you can book up to eight single trips within the region as flexible tickets, which works out at great value if you're planning a tour of the Baltics), airport transfer bus tickets, car hire, hotel bookings, and so on - and best of all, the website is available in no less than 13 languages, which puts some other, bigger airlines to shame!
Air Baltic is not currently part of the One World or Star Alliance programmes, but as an SAS Scandinavian partner it is involved in the EuroBonus frequent flyer system. Another bonus is that if you are flying to Berlin, Hamburg, Düsseldorf or Munich, you can also take advantage of the Rail&Fly offers, which give you discounted tickets for connecting trains to a host of other cities in Germany.
I flew from Riga to Vilnius, and then from the capital of Lithuania to Tallinn - both flights used the small turboprop Fokker 50 aircraft, seating about 50 passengers, and were approaching capacity. No surprise really, seeing as the prices were extremely affordable - my flights each cost around €60 (including taxes and fees), and if you book far enough in advance, then flights are available from €1. This is a tactic that has served Ryanair well, and Air Baltic seems to have realised that…
The onboard service was fine on both flights - the short hop from Riga to Vilnius included a free coffee, while the longer journey to Estonia gave the flights assistants time to sell a selection of drinks and snacks, and the prices and standard were OK in comparison to other airlines (about €2 for a drink, for example). However, if you buy a business class ticket, then the increased price includes an onboard meal.
All in all, Air Baltic offers a decent level of service at a very reasonable price. The route network is growing at a sensible rate - plenty of new destinations have been added in the last couple of years but the overall impression is that the company is expanding gradually and is certainly looking to cement its position as the top dog for air travel in the Baltics. The relaxation of airspace and airport regulations across countries in western Europe also means that there are more opportunities for newer carriers to gain a foothold in what had previously been closed markets, so I wouldn't be surprised to see this airline providing more routes to Germany, France and the UK in the near future. And if you are planning a trip to the Baltics, I definitely recommend that you give some serious consideration to Air Baltic.
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