airBaltic announces free date change on travel bookings

Martin Gauss, CEO of airBaltic said: “We clearly see that passengers are willing to travel and plan their late spring and summer holidays. This step provides flexibility to our passengers, so that they can book their next trip with ease.”

Notably, the release about the move did not mention the coronavirus at any point, though the ongoing uncertainty about personal travel arrangements would seem to have been a factor in the decision to allow the extra flexibility.

The temporary offer is valid for all new airBaltic reservations made between March 10 and March 31, 2020. Passengers can rebook their tickets free of charge to a new date for travel by December 31, 2020. Only one date change is permitted.

Additionally, for all existing reservations made by March 9 with travel dates until March 31, 2020, airBaltic is offering an opportunity to change the date free of charge for travel by December 31.

However, the date change has to be made before the original departure date and if the original fare is no longer available, the corresponding fare difference must be paid. Origin and destination of the reservation must remain the same as in the original ticket.

Latest information concerning the travel updates from airBaltic can be found on the company’s website.

On March 9 airBaltic made a decision to further decrease its overall capacity by 7% between March 29 and May 31, 2020. The airline has cancelled 370 additional flights in addition to previous schedule adjustments and cancelling flights from Riga to Milan and Verona.

Passengers who have bookings for the affected flights will be contacted individually to offer them travel alternatives, the airline said.

Later on March 10 airBaltic announced it was also suspending flights to Rome and Tel Aviv from Rīga as well as postponing the planned launch of flights between Rome and Tallinn, Estonia.