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airBaltic (BT) Guide

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airBaltic flies from Riga International (RIX) to places such as Barcelona and Stockholm. This guide covers that network, the airBaltic fleet and cabins, baggage, check-in and how to pay less. Ask a question
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In short

airBaltic is the flag carrier of Latvia, flying an all-Airbus A220-300 fleet from Riga International, with more bases in Tallinn and Vilnius. It serves 70+ destinations in the Baltics, the Nordics, Europe and the Middle East, a practical choice for reaching the Baltic states. airBaltic has no alliance and runs airBaltic Club. Flights carry Business and Economy seating.

airBaltic is the flag carrier of Latvia, majority-owned by the Latvian government and based at Riga International Airport. It flies only Airbus A220-300 aircraft on short-haul routes from Riga, Tallinn and Vilnius across Europe and to the Middle East.

Please note: bookingMentor is an independent travel service and is not affiliated with airBaltic. Routes, schedules, fleet and baggage rules change, so always confirm the details of your booking with the airline.

What to expect

airBaltic (IATA: BT, ICAO: BTI) is the flag carrier of Latvia, based at Riga International Airport in Mārupe. It flies short and medium-haul routes from Riga, Tallinn, Vilnius and Tampere to more than 70 destinations in Europe, the Caucasus and the Middle East, and suits travellers from the Baltic states and Finland who want direct flights or a single connection in Riga.

Schedule status and bookings in 2026

airBaltic says all flights are operating as scheduled, existing tickets and bookings stay valid and passengers can keep booking. In August 2026 it had also announced plans to shrink the fleet to about 36 aircraft by the end of the year, so some routes and frequencies are being cut. Check that your route still runs before you book far ahead.

From an SAS joint venture to state ownership

Air Baltic began in 1995 as a joint venture between SAS and the Latvian government, and the first flight left Riga on 1 October 1995. The company rebranded as airBaltic in 2004, and SAS sold its 47.2% stake in 2009. As of March 2026 the Latvian state held 88.37% of the shares and the Lufthansa Group 10%, bought in 2025 for €14 million in a deal that converts to ordinary shares if the airline lists on the stock market. A leasing company holds the remaining 1.62%.

Connecting through Riga

Riga is the main hub, and many trips on the network involve a change there, for example from Vilnius or Tallinn to a holiday destination in southern Europe. Tallinn and Vilnius are secondary hubs with their own direct flights, Tampere in Finland is a base, and Gran Canaria is a seasonal base for winter sun flights. airBaltic carried about 5.2 million passengers in 2025.

An all-A220 airline

airBaltic flies only one aircraft type, the Airbus A220-300, and it is the largest operator of the type in the world. 55 were in service in 2026, with 44 more on order. Nearly half the fleet was wet-leased to the Lufthansa Group in early 2025, which means some airBaltic aircraft and crews fly routes sold under Lufthansa Group flight numbers. A single type means the same cabin on every route, with business class at the front and economy behind.

Fact-checked by the bookingMentor Travel Desk Reviewed · Updated when rules or prices change

Checked against trusted sources:
Irish ExaminerairBaltic official website

See all 2 sources
  1. Irish Examiner: airBaltic flights operating as scheduled
  2. airBaltic official website
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Good to know

  • Founded1995
  • Other gatewaysTLL / VNO / TMP

Everything you should know

Airline codes

BT · BTI

IATA · ICAO · callsign “AIR BALTIC”

Look for BT in front of the number on your ticket: that prefix marks a flight sold under the airBaltic code. Enter BT and the number to follow a airBaltic departure.

Key facts

Main hub

Riga (RIX)

Riga International

Also flies abroad fromTallinn (TLL) · Vilnius (VNO) · Tampere (TMP)

Network

70+ destinations

Baltics · Nordics · Europe · Middle East

airBaltic flies short-haul from Riga, plus bases in Tallinn, Vilnius and Tampere, to cities and holiday spots across Europe, the Caucasus and the Middle East. It does not fly long-haul.

Destinations

Cabin classes

Business

and Economy

An all-Airbus A220-300 fleet with Business and Economy. airBaltic signed with Starlink to offer free Wi-Fi on board, which suits passengers working on the short business routes between the Baltic capitals and Western Europe.

Compare cabins

Good to know

airBaltic is one of the largest operators of the Airbus A220-300 and has a seasonal base in Las Palmas. airBaltic’s own website is airbaltic.com.

Frequent flyer

airBaltic Club

No global alliance

airBaltic is not in Star Alliance, oneworld or SkyTeam, so status from an alliance airline does not carry over to its flights.

How it works

Start a new search

One bookingMentor search puts a airBaltic ticket next to every other option on your route, so you can see which airline gives the better deal.

Wishing you a smooth trip with airBaltic.

Select dates

At a glance

airBaltic (IATA: BT, ICAO: BTI) is the flag carrier of Latvia, based at Riga International Airport. Founded in 1995, it flies an all-Airbus A220-300 fleet from Riga, Tallinn and Vilnius to more than 70 destinations in Europe, the Caucasus and the Middle East.

Key facts about airBaltic
HeadquartersRiga International Airport, Mārupe, Latvia
Fleet typesAirbus A220-300 (single-type fleet)
Frequent flyerairBaltic Club
Official websiteairbaltic.com

Flight routes

Destinations and routes

Direct routes
Destinations listed in airBaltic’s published network, grouped by region. Seasonal and new airBaltic routes come and go, so check the schedule for your dates. Search flights

Baltics & Nordics

Riga (RIX) departures9 destinations

Check all

Fleet and aircraft

Published fleet records for September 2026 show the Airbus A220-300 as the most numerous type at airBaltic. Numbers shift as new jets arrive and old ones leave the airBaltic fleet.

  • Airbus A220-300 Narrow-body · 55 in service All routes

Cabin classes

On airBaltic you can choose from Business and Economy, depending on the route and the aircraft.

Business All flights

Short-haul business

Business class on airBaltic’s A220s.

Priority boardingLounge accessMeals

Economy All flights

Standard seat

The main cabin, sold in several fare bundles.

Fare bundles with bags and seats

airBaltic Club

Earn points on BT flights with airBaltic Club, which you can join on the airBaltic website.

airBaltic Club members collect points on airBaltic flights and use them for flights and extras. Check the airline’s website for current rules.

airBaltic Club is the loyalty programme. Members earn points on airBaltic flights and partners and spend them on tickets and extras. The airline is not in a global alliance but has codeshares with Lufthansa, SAS, Delta and other carriers.

Baggage allowance

airBaltic does not give every passenger the same allowance: the route, the cabin and the fare you buy each change it. Your BT e-ticket shows what you have.

Checked baggage
On your e-ticket
Cabin baggage
Set by your fare
Extra bags
Add online before you fly
Power banks
Cabin bag only

airBaltic sells its fares in bundles, and the checked bag, seat choice and change rules come with the bundle you pick. Flights operated for the Lufthansa Group under wet-lease follow the selling airline's rules, so check which airline issued your ticket.

Pro tip: compare the bundles side by side before paying and pick the one that already covers the bags you plan to take.
Travel day

Online Check-in

Here is the order to follow for a BT flight: check in, sort your documents, meet the airport deadline and drop your bags.

  1. Step 1

    Check in online

    Use airbaltic.com to check in for eligible flights. Have your airBaltic booking reference or e-ticket number and your surname ready.

    Booking ref + surname
  2. Step 2

    Prepare your documents

    Before leaving for the airport, check that your passport is valid and that you hold any visa or entry document needed at the other end of your airBaltic flight. Domestic BT passengers should bring a photo ID the airline accepts.

    Passport · visa · ID
  3. Step 3

    Arrive early

    Get to the airport with time for airBaltic check-in, bag drop and security. The airline sets a deadline for each airport, shown in your booking, and late arrivals can lose their seat.

    Check your deadline
  4. Step 4

    Drop your bags

    Hand in checked luggage at the airBaltic counter or bag drop, then keep your boarding pass and passport ready for security and the gate.

    airBaltic counter
Ready to check in? Check in and manage your booking on the official airBaltic website.
Check in with airBaltic
Save money

Cheap tickets

Ways to pay less for a airBaltic ticket, from the dates you choose to the fare type you buy.

  1. 01

    Try midweek BT flights

    airBaltic fares are often lower on midweek departures. Search a spread of dates around your trip to find the cheaper days.

    Midweek flights
  2. 02

    Avoid the holiday peaks

    airBaltic prices climb around school holidays and big festivals. Flying a few days before or after the rush usually helps.

    School holidays · festivals
  3. 03

    Price the bundle, not the base fare

    A airBaltic fare that includes a checked bag, seat choice or cheaper changes can cost less overall than adding those extras later.

    Baggage & changes
  4. 04

    Connect via Riga

    airBaltic’s network is built around Riga. A connection there can be cheaper than a direct flight on other airlines between the Nordics and Europe.

    Transfers at RIX
  5. 05

    Join airBaltic Club

    Membership of airBaltic Club lets your airBaltic trips count towards rewards, and members hear about offers first.

    Before you fly

  6. Ready to compare fares?

    Search airBaltic alongside every other airline on your route, with flexible dates.

    Search airBaltic flights

Reviews and questions

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Everything travellers ask before flying airBaltic.
Answers checked against airBaltic’s official website and published airline records. Reviewed 10 October 2026.

Getting there

No. airBaltic is not a member of any airline alliance. It has codeshare agreements with several Star Alliance airlines and other carriers, including Lufthansa, SAS and Delta, which help passengers connect beyond the Baltic region.

General