A hangar at Riga International Airport was transformed into a floodlit stage set for the plane, while officials, celebrities, business figures and even the odd clergyman milled around enjoying complimentary canapes and fizz.
All ready for the unveiling of the first @airBaltic @BBD_Aircraft #CS300airBaltic aircraft in Riga, Latvia pic.twitter.com/fAy5vi8Q8V
— Allplane (@Allplane) December 1, 2016
President Raimonds Vejonis was first to get a tour of the new aircraft, then descended the steps in true Air Force One style saying Latvia should be proud of the new purchase.
LV var lepoties - pēc jauno “Bombardier CS300” saņemšanas @airBaltic flote būs viena no zaļākajām pasaulē,- @Vejonis https://t.co/FTAkBws7yq pic.twitter.com/zROi1tG89p
— Valsts prezidents (@Rigas_pils) December 1, 2016
Latvia's Roman Catholic Archbishop was among those tweeting his approval.
Šovakar, atsaucoties uz apkalpes lūgumu, ar prieku (bez trokšņa) nosvētīju pasaulē pirmo #Bombardier CS300 turpmākajiem lidojumiem. pic.twitter.com/lkQxYs4l5c
— Zbigņevs Stankevičs (@arhibiskaps) December 1, 2016
Others joined in the praise.
Congratulations @airBaltic for an incredible presentation of the new #CS300airBaltic pic.twitter.com/mWg4IzCx36
— Zela Aviation (@ZelaAviation) December 2, 2016
Congrats @airBaltic @Gaussm, great party for a great plane #CS300airBaltic - brilliant for tourism in the Baltics! pic.twitter.com/3VKA5ny8YV
— Michael Jacobi (@MichaelJacobi74) December 1, 2016
Industry experts flown in for the occasion gave their verdict both inside and out.
Amazing what moodlighting can do even in a single aisle #aircraft @BBD_Aircraft @airBaltic #CS300airBaltic #PaxEx pic.twitter.com/OySVILN1Si
— Andreas Spaeth (@SpaethFlies) December 1, 2016
airBaltic is the first airline in the world to operate the CS300, with Riga to Amsterdam the first route.
We're proud to announce the first destination of our new #CS300airBaltic - Amsterdam! Learn more: https://t.co/21CeMcaUrh pic.twitter.com/aaDYEV1oMP
— airBaltic (@airBaltic) November 14, 2016
