airBaltic, the Latvian-based airline, has signed a codeshare agreement with US carrier Delta Air Lines, which will come into effect on November 22, 2023.
Under the terms of the codeshare deal, Delta will add its DL code to airBaltic services, providing customers with convenient connections and enhanced flexibility between North America and the Baltic region.
airBaltic currently operates more than 100 routes from bases at Riga, Tallinn, Vilnius, and Tampere, offering connections to a wide range of destinations across the airline’s route network throughout Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, and the Caucasus regions.
“This marks a historic achievement for airBaltic and Latvia, as we embark on expanding our network across the Atlantic Ocean,” said Martin Gauss, President and CEO of airBaltic. “Collaboration with the renowned US partner Delta Air Lines, known for its expansive network and international cooperation infrastructure, holds tremendous opportunities. It will not only attract new passengers to airBaltic but also elevate the Baltics’ global visibility and connectivity. We are looking forward to a successful, long-standing collaboration together.”
“Enhanced partnerships are integral to our long-term strategy to connect Delta passengers around the world,” said Alain Bellamare, Delta’s Executive Vice President and President International. “Working closely with airBaltic will further strengthen Delta’s connection to this vibrant European region by offering more customers unrivaled access to destinations across the US.”
The opportunity for the airlines to codeshare follows the Latvian Civil Aviation Association achieving a Category 1 rating from the Federal Aviation Administration assessment program, which determines whether another country’s oversight of its air carriers meets with ICAO safety standards.
airBaltic currently operates a fleet of 44 Airbus A220-300 twinjets, each seating 148 passengers, and is expecting another six to be delivered in the coming months.
At the Dubai Airshow 2023, the carrier also announced that it had ordered a further 30 of the type and taken purchase options on another 20, potentially taking its fleet to 100 aircraft.