airBaltic cancels several winter flights due to rising fuel costs

airBaltic has announced the cancellation or rescheduling of several flights for the upcoming winter season, running from late October to late March. The airline cited rising aviation fuel costs as a primary driver for these changes, noting that fuel expenses account for one-third of the company's total costs. The price surge is linked to the conflict in the Middle East.

Specific routes from Riga that will be suspended during the winter include Bucharest, Sofia, Budapest, and Oulu, though service is expected to resume in the summer. The Riga–Innsbruck route will be discontinued entirely. Additionally, the airline will reduce flight frequencies on routes to Copenhagen, Oslo, Vienna, and Munich due to insufficient load factors to maintain profitability.

Passengers affected by these changes can choose alternative flights within a 14-day window of their original departure date or request a full refund. Despite these reductions, airBaltic plans to maintain over 45 direct flight destinations from Riga this winter.