Commenting on the cooperation agreement between airBaltic and Delta Airlines, which will provide more convenient connectivity for U.S. travelers on flights to the Baltics, Gauss emphasized that there will be no direct flights between Riga and the U.S. yet, but he sees a connection to New York in the future.
When asked when airBaltic will fly to the U.S., Gauss said: “This is a desire, and the Baltic States must have this connectivity, but it has to be an economically logical step.” Currently, airBaltic does not do so because the company does not yet have aircraft that can be economically advantageous for flights across the ocean.
“We look at the feasibility of this connection every year, but it's not economically logical at the moment. We have profits right now and we don't want to spoil that by starting a very expensive project. But it has to [happen], that's what I agree with,” said Gauss.
When asked about the deal of buying 30 more Airbus A220-300 jets, Gauss did not disclose the amount of the deal.
In order to store so many planes, there will be growth in the Baltic States – Tallinn, Riga and Vilnius, as well as in the Nordic countries, said Gauss.
“Every year, every season, we're going to report on a new base, like we're about to open a new base in Gran Canaria for three months. We can choose a new base every few months, but we want to focus on the bases of the Baltic States because we connect the Baltic States. Let's work with Lufthansa and SAS and hire planes,” Gauss outlined plans for the future.
