Portugal And Slovenia Strengthen AirBaltic’s European Network As The Carrier Sets New Standards In Passenger Volume And Load Efficiency In May 2025

Wednesday, June 11, 2025

Portugal and Slovenia have become the latest highlights of airBaltic’s rapidly expanding route network, as the airline reports its strongest-ever performance in May 2025 with nearly four hundred fifty-nine thousand passengers carried and a record load factor of seventy-eight point six percent. Building on this historic growth, airBaltic is launching new winter routes from Riga to Faro, Tallinn to Madeira, and Gran Canaria to Ljubljana, while also expanding capacity on its Dubai and Amsterdam services, reinforcing its strategic ambition to strengthen connectivity across Europe, the Middle East, and beyond.

airBaltic Breaks Passenger Record in May and Announces Winter Expansion with New Southern Europe Routes

airBaltic, the flag carrier of Latvia and a leading airline in the Baltic region, continues its upward momentum with a record-breaking performance in May 2025, while gearing up for an ambitious winter season. The airline, known for its strategic route planning and customer-centric operations, has not only strengthened its core network but is now preparing to add exciting new destinations to its map across Europe.

Record-Breaking Passenger Traffic in May 2025

In May 2025, airBaltic carried nearly four hundred fifty-nine thousand travelers, reflecting a growth of six percent compared to the same month in 2024. This surge in traffic is particularly notable given that the airline operated slightly fewer flights—around four thousand three hundred, reflecting a 0.4 percent decline in flight volume due to earlier adjustments in its network capacity.

Despite this marginal reduction in flight operations, airBaltic achieved an impressive load factor of 78.6 percent. This marks a 3.4 percentage point improvement year-on-year and sets a new all-time high for the airline’s May performance. This strong load factor is a clear indicator of efficient fleet utilization and high demand for airBaltic’s services, especially during the late spring travel peak.

Equally remarkable is airBaltic’s operational reliability. The airline reported a flight regularity rate of 99.86 percent, further solidifying its reputation for punctuality and service consistency across its network.

Year-to-Date Performance Shows Upward Trend

The airline’s strong monthly performance contributes to an equally robust showing in the year-to-date figures. From January through May 2025, airBaltic carried approximately 1.86 million passengers, representing an eight percent increase compared to the same period in 2024. This figure sets a new five-month record for the carrier, signaling growing confidence among travelers and effective network management by the airline.

airBaltic’s success can be attributed to its dynamic approach to fleet planning, route optimization, and service reliability, which continues to resonate with both leisure and business travelers across its expanding network.

Winter 2025/2026 Season to Feature Exciting New Routes

Looking ahead to the upcoming winter 2025/2026 season, airBaltic has announced three brand-new routes aimed at offering travelers more choices for winter sun escapes and culturally rich destinations:

Riga to Faro, Portugal – Launching just in time for winter sun-seekers looking to explore the Algarve coastTallinn to Madeira, Portugal – Opening a new channel for Estonian travelers to visit the scenic Atlantic archipelagoGran Canaria to Ljubljana, Slovenia – Establishing a direct link between the Canary Islands and Central Europe for travelers seeking winter escapes.

These new routes will not only boost connectivity but also serve to diversify the airline’s winter offerings, catering to the increasing demand for off-season holiday travel to warmer climates.

Increased Frequencies to Key International Cities

Beyond launching new destinations, airBaltic is also enhancing frequencies on some of its most popular international routes. Highlights of the winter expansion plan include:

Riga to Dubai: This high-demand route will be upgraded to daily service, offering greater flexibility and access to the UAE’s vibrant commercial and tourism hubVilnius to Dubai: Flight frequency will double to four times per week, reinforcing Lithuania’s air links with the Middle EastAmsterdam: Connectivity to Amsterdam will see a significant boost, with a combined forty-seven weekly flights from the airline’s three main Baltic hubs—Riga, Tallinn, and Vilnius

These enhancements come as part of the airline’s ongoing commitment to ensure seamless connections across its growing international route map, strengthening its role as a Baltic gateway to the world.

Broadening Network Footprint

airBaltic currently operates around one hundred thirty routes from its five strategic bases in Riga (Latvia), Tallinn (Estonia), Vilnius (Lithuania), Tampere (Finland), and Gran Canaria (Spain). Its reach extends across Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, and the Caucasus, offering comprehensive connectivity for both inbound and outbound travelers from the Baltic region.

This diverse route portfolio underscores the airline’s ambition to transform itself from a regional carrier into a competitive player in the broader European aviation market. Equipped with a modern and fuel-efficient fleet, mainly consisting of Airbus A220-300 jets, airBaltic is strategically poised to expand its operations while maintaining a strong focus on sustainability and passenger satisfaction.

Portugal and Slovenia join airBaltic’s growing network as the airline reports record-breaking passenger growth and its highest-ever load factor in May 2025, while preparing for bold winter expansion across Europe and the Middle East.

As airBaltic continues to hit new passenger milestones and expand into sought-after destinations, its strategy of agile network planning and operational excellence is clearly paying off. The upcoming winter season will further reinforce its commitment to offering greater connectivity, flexibility, and comfort for travelers in the Baltics and beyond. Whether through launching new sunny escapes or increasing frequencies to international hubs, airBaltic is proving that its growth trajectory remains firmly on course.