Latvian-based airline airBaltic has launched its new base in Gran Canaria (LPA) in the Canary Islands. Using a pair of the airline’s Airbus A220-300s, the carrier will serve ten destinations across Europe from the Spanish island.
The airline will fly its A220s, each of which seats 145 passengers in a single-class configuration, to its main bases at Riga (RIX), Tallinn (TLL), Vilnius (VNO), and Tampere (TMP).
Away from flying scheduled services to its four Nordic bases, airBaltic will also be sending its pair of LPA-based A220s to Bergen (BGO), Oslo-Torp (TRF), Oslo-Gardermoen (OSL), Aalburg (AAL), Billund (BLL) and Copenhagen (CPH).
“We at airBaltic are glad to mark the launch of our seasonal base in Gran Canaria,” said Martin Gauss, President and CEO at airBaltic. “As we station two aircraft in Gran Conaria, we will connect this wonderful island with destinations in Northern Europe. This is the first seasonal base of airBaltic, as well as the first base outside of the Baltics and Finland. By tapping into the strong and growing demand during the winter months between Northern Europe and the Canary Islands, we will also increase our aircraft utilization.”
The seasonal routes being introduced complement airBaltic’s current services to the Canary Islands as the airline continues to operate direct flights to Tenerife from its four main operating bases in Riga, Tallinn, Vilnius, and Tampere.
The airline currently operates 45 Airbus A220-300 aircraft, with more arriving in the coming months. In advance of the carriers’ 50th example due to arrive in November 2024, the airline recently launched a competition inviting the public to design a special livery for the milestone aircraft.