The Latvian airline airBaltic will begin direct scheduled flights between Riga and Oulu – the European Capital of Culture 2026 – in March 2026. The return flights will operate five days a week (Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays) starting from 29 March until the end of October 2026.
Yrjötapio Kivisaari, CEO of Oulun Matkailu Oy, welcomes the new connection.
– We have been discussing the opening of this route in different settings for a long time. Now we finally have good news! airBaltic’s new connection strengthens the international accessibility of Oulu and the whole of Northern Finland at exactly the right time, bringing visitors to enjoy the cultural year’s offerings. Our clear goal is to establish the connection also for the coming years, Kivisaari says.
Thanks to the schedules, Oulu residents can also travel efficiently to Europe. By departing from Oulu on an early morning flight at 04:55, travellers can continue on the same day to destinations such as Oslo, Stockholm, Copenhagen, Berlin, Munich, Zurich, Vienna, Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, Tallinn, or Vilnius – and return to Oulu even on the same evening, if necessary. Because of the late evening return, the aircraft and its crew will overnight in Oulu.
In Riga, travellers will find a distinctive destination: the city’s UNESCO-listed Art Nouveau architecture, vibrant cultural offerings, and lively restaurant scene make it an attractive stopover before onward connections or as a destination in its own right.
Thomas Ramdahl, Chief Commercial Officer (Acting) at airBaltic is also happy about the new launch.
– Launching flights from Oulu strengthens our presence in Finland and provides travellers in the region with greater connectivity to Europe and beyond. With seamless one-stop transfers via Riga, passengers can easily reach a wide range of popular destinations for both business and leisure, while enjoying convenient schedules and more travel options throughout the summer season, Ramdahl states.
– airBaltic offers an unprecedented travel experience on board its modern Airbus A220-300 fleet, which is gradually being equipped with free and fast SpaceX Starlink internet, Ramdahl adds.
From a business perspective, the route provides companies in the Oulu region with new international connections.
– The launch of this new route is the result of long-term regional cooperation and the flight programme funded by local municipalities, which makes new connections to Oulu possible. The near-daily link to Riga’s hub is a significant improvement in accessibility for the Oulu economic area. We encourage people to use the connection. Its permanence and potential expansion depend on actual usage, stresses Juuso Rönnholm, Head of Knowledge Management and Societal Influence at BusinessOulu.
From Finavia’s perspective, the route strengthens Oulu Airport’s role as an important international hub.
– The direct flight connection to Riga offers travellers departing from Oulu a wide range of onward connections from Riga Airport to other parts of Europe. Operating five times a week, this route also plays a significant role in bringing tourists to Oulu and its surrounding areas – especially now, as Oulu garners international interest as a European Capital of Culture 2026. At Finavia, we continuously work to improve Finland’s accessibility, and we are delighted about airBaltic’s new initiative, says Petri Vuori, Finavia’s Director of Route Development.
airBaltic’s flights between Oulu and Riga are already available for purchase.
Facts about the flights:
- BT 384 / Oulu – Riga: Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri, Sat. Departure Oulu 04:55 – Arrival Riga 06:30
- BT 383 / Riga – Oulu: Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sun. Departure Riga 23:20 – Arrival Oulu 01:00 (+1 day)
- Route season: 29 March – 24 October 2026
- Aircraft: 148-seat Airbus A220-300
- Tickets already available for purchase
For further information:
Visit Oulu
President & CEO
Yrjötapio Kivisaari
tel. +358 40 546 6283
Business Oulu
Juuso Rönnholm
tel. +358 50 574 1504
Finavia
Petri Vuori
Senior Vice President, Route Development
tel. +358 40 722 1256
airBaltic
Corporate Communication Unit
Air Baltic Corporation AS
e-mail: pr@airbaltic.com