Liepāja airport's life support is regular flights, which are not currently taking place, the airport's chief Agris Sprūde said. Following the redevelopment of Liepājas airport, airBaltic started Rīga-Liepāja flights in May 2017. The overall turnover of the air transport sector in Latvia in 2020, compared to the previous year, has fallen by 72%, which is the worst indicator of all sectors.
“In the long run, without these scheduled flights, the meaning of the airport is diminishing, of course, there are new types of industry and the very essential training flights, including the maintenance of aircraft in the hangar of airBaltic Training, which is very important. Life doesn't stop, but it would be unacceptable to lose the regular traffic. Yes, of course, the virus is now playing what it wants,” Sprūde said.
Didzis Rudmanis, representative of airBaltic, told Latvian Radio that flights between Rīga and Liepāja could resume on 2 May.
“Currently airBaltic” continues to provide essential connectivity from Riga, including to Tallinn and Vilnius, and transit for passengers who need to fly. Due to the changing travel restrictions, this has a significant impact on the demand for flights, airBaltic plans to renew flights to Liepājas in early May and plans to complete four flights per week in the forthcoming summer season,” Rudmanis said.
He noted: “Let us also remember last year that, when it was possible, airBaltic conducted direct flights between Rīga and Liepāja – in July, August and the first weeks of September, these flights were offered to passengers.”
The spokesman for airBaltic expressed hope that as soon as the trips are possible, the demand for flights will grow rapidly.
Rīga-Liepāja is the only domestic flight route in Latvia.
