Author: airBaltic.com
Source: airBaltic.com
The Latvian national airline airBaltic today culminated its 30th anniversary celebrations, featuring a series of several events since August, with a special highlight – a Riga–Stockholm flight transformed into a flying concert. Passengers enjoyed a surprise live performance by the acclaimed Latvian choir MASKA, streamed in real time and broadcast on Latvian Television – marking the Europe’s first-ever in-flight choir performance to be streamed using Starlink internet technology.
The celebratory flight carried special meaning, as exactly 30 years ago on this day, airBaltic operated its very first commercial flight on the same Riga–Stockholm route with a 33-seat Saab 340. This morning, flight BT101 from RIX Riga Airport to Stockholm Arlanda Airport departed in an Airbus A220-300 (registration number YL-CSL), featuring a red-white-red livery, in honor of the Latvian flag.
The choir performed Vindo – a composition by Reinis Sējāns and Jānis Šipkēvics. The song blends the sounds and spirit of Nordic languages and cultural tones. Its familiar notes symbolize the harmony of people and cultures – much like airBaltic itself, connecting and bringing them together.
Reklāma
“Today is a very special day for airBaltic,” said Pauls Cālītis, Interim CEO of airBaltic. “Since our first flight 30 years ago, we have grown from a single small aircraft to a fleet of fifty modern Airbus jets. Our green tails have become a symbol of the Baltics far beyond our region. Today, airBaltic has become the leading carrier in the Baltics – a trusted and modern airline, serving as an essential link between the region and the world. This achievement rests on the shoulders of nearly 3 000 dedicated colleagues and the trust of millions of passengers over three decades. On behalf of the team, thank you for being part of this journey.”
airBaltic extends its heartfelt thanks to the choir MASKA of the Mārupe Municipality for their inspiring performance, as well as to RIX Riga Airport and Stockholm Arlanda Airport, and LSG Sky Chefs for their support and warm festive greetings to passengers.
To mark this anniversary, airBaltic has launched a dedicated website – https://30years.airbaltic.com/ – where visitors can explore the airline’s history, key milestones, and special fleet liveries, as well as gain insights into the company itself. At the heart of the site is a special section, 30 Stories for 30 Years, which shares personal memories and experiences that highlight how airBaltic has touched lives over the decades. These stories show that airBaltic is more than just an airline – it connects people, creates memories, and turns dreams into reality. Additional stories are being featured across the company’s social media throughout.
airBaltic was founded on 28 August 1995 through a joint venture agreement between the Latvian state and Scandinavian Airlines (SAS).
Today, airBaltic operates a fleet of 50 Airbus A220-300 aircraft, connecting the Baltic region, Tampere and, seasonally, Gran Canaria, with more than 80 destinations and 130 routes across Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, and the Caucasus. Over the past 30 years, airBaltic has proudly carried more than 65 million passengers, performing more one million flights.
A complete schedule of airBaltic flights and tickets are available on the company's homepage at www.airbaltic.com.
To publish this article please contact BalticTravelnews.eu editorial board
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