The Latvian national airline airBaltic is starting its new direct route connecting Riga with Oulu, starting March 29. The new service will operate five times per week, further strengthening connectivity between Latvia and Finland, and giving Oulu a new contact point to international connections.
airBaltic will fly the new route from Oulu to Riga on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, departing from Oulu at 5:00 a.m. and arriving in Riga at 6:30 a.m. Flights from Riga to Oulu will operate on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays at 11:20 p.m., arriving in Oulu at 1:30 a.m.
– The new route to Oulu is aimed at expanding international travel options for Northern Finland. By connecting through our Riga hub, travelers from Oulu will enjoy seamless access to a wide range of destinations across Europe and further afield. We see significant potential in this market, and this connection will strengthen regional links to our wider network while meeting the increasing demand for outbound travel, says Mantas Vrubliauskas, Vice President of Network Management at airBaltic.
Key operatives at the Oulu end could not be happier with the new route and its possibilities.
– The new direct connection between Riga and Oulu is a significant step forward for inbound travel to Northern Finland. With five weekly flights and seamless connections through the airBaltic network, this route makes Oulu region more accessible than ever for international visitors across Europe and beyond. As the European Capital of Culture year is already underway, improved connectivity like this plays a key role in attracting visitors and supporting the continued growth of international tourism, comments Y.T. Anderson, President and CEO of Visit Northern Finland & Oulu.
Creating new connections for transport is a continuous effort and demands cooperation between numerous partners. When everything clicks into place, it creates a new kind of potential for the growth and development of international tourism.
– Over the past two years, Oulu Airport and the region have been actively promoted, and negotiations have been carried out intensively in the air traffic programme that is funded by the municipalities of Northern Ostrobothnia. airBaltic’s return to Oulu is particularly great news for local leisure and business travellers, but it also supports international tourism throughout Northern Finland via Oulu, adds Jyrki Kemppainen, Key Account Director for Trade & Services, Travel and Logistics at BusinessOulu.