Tallink shuts down Rīga-Helsinki route until May

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Tallink Grupp said in a media statement September 30 that it will suspend the operation of the Helsinki-Riga route and will cancel all trips until spring 2021.

The company initially announced last Friday, 25 September, that it is suspending the route until the end of October this year and will make a decision in the coming weeks. Following an assessment of the bookings on the route for the coming months, however, the company has made the decision to suspend the route’s operations until spring 2021.

Depending on the developments of the COVID-19 situation, lifting of the travel restrictions in the region, demand from travelers and the outcome of discussions with the governments, the company currently plans to re-open the route from May 2021.

Following the decision made by the Latvian authorities 25 September to add Finland to the yellow country list and thus requiring all travelers arriving from Finland to self-isolate for 10 days upon arrival in Latvia, there was an immediate and significant drop in the bookings for the popular temporary route between Finland and Latvia.

Paavo Nõgene, CEO of Tallink Grupp said:

"The decision to suspend a route never comes easy and hasn’t got easier as we navigate through this challenging year with its continuous ups and downs. However, as the newly imposed travel restrictions by Latvia have immediately and significantly impacted the bookings for the months ahead on this route, we have no choice but to suspend operations on this route to avoid operating with a loss.

We hope to reopen this route from May 2021 according to current plans, and discussions with the authorities and various other parties in Latvia and Riga are already ongoing regarding this."

Customers with bookings for trips on this route will be contacted by Tallink Customer services teams as soon as possible.

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