Abu Dhabi to receive four direct weekly flights by airBaltic

The National -- The number of visitors from the Baltic’s states to Abu Dhabi is expected to increase by as much as 60 per cent with the launch new direct flights by airBaltic.

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi said airBaltic will offer four weekly flights between Riga, Latvia and Abu Dhabi until March 24.

The emirate has witnessed a strong upsurge in travellers from Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania, with an increase of 25 per cent in the number of visitors in 2016 compared to 2014. This year, Abu Dhabi hosted 13 per cent more overnight guests and recorded an increase of 12 per cent in guest arrivals compared to the same period in 2016.

Visitors from the three Baltic countries benefit from a visa-on-arrival policy, in addition to a codeshare agreement with Etihad Airways.

"Over the past year, we have developed a carefully thought-out strategy focused on identifying key tourism markets that do not yet have direct links to Abu Dhabi, and implementing a plan targeted at showcasing the benefits of our capital to private sector players there,” said Sultan Al Mutawa Al Dhaheri, acting executive director at DCT. “We are thrilled that thanks to our efforts, companies like airBaltic are seeing the value we have to offer as a tourism and business destination, and are independently directing plans that connect the UAE capital to more markets around the world."

Martin Gauss, Chief Executive Officer of airBaltic: “We are delighted to launch the new Riga – Abu Dhabi route. Thanks to our cooperation with Etihad Airways we can now offer our customers brand new flying experience flying with the world’s most modern jet aircraft CS300 to the Middle East and beyond for affordable prices.”

Until now passengers have made over 9 000 bookings on the Riga – Abu Dhabi route and it is popular among travelers from Latvia and outside, as 30% of the bookings currently come from transfer passengers mostly from Scandinavia and the Baltics. Moreover, airBaltic has seen additional demand for the flight to the Formula Grand Prix, which will take place in Abu Dhabi in the last weekend of November.