airBaltic to drop Dubai and 13 other winter routes

Latvia's national airline "airBaltic" has announced it will suspend direct flights between Riga and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates starting this winter season, the airline told the LETA news agency.

The decision follows a comprehensive review of several factors, including the current situation in the region and potential operational restrictions that could affect routes to and from Dubai. Although direct flights will end, "airBaltic" plans to continue cooperating with partner airlines to offer connections between the two cities.

What affected passengers should do

Passengers who have already booked flights to or from Dubai will be offered alternatives, including rebooking to another "airBaltic" destination, a refund, or a connecting flight to Dubai through a partner airline. The airline will contact customers who booked directly with "airBaltic" individually. Passengers who purchased tickets through a travel agency are advised to contact that agency for assistance.

The Dubai route joins a previously announced list of 14 routes being discontinued for the winter season, including flights to Faro, Kittilä, Ljubljana, Malta, Marrakesh and Salzburg. Flight frequency will also decrease on several other routes, including to Copenhagen, Stockholm, Frankfurt and Tampere.

Restructuring process continues

The announcement comes as "airBaltic" undergoes a financial restructuring under U.S. Chapter 11 procedure, which shields the company from creditor claims. Flights and customer service continue as usual, and existing tickets remain valid. The process is expected to conclude by mid-2027.

Last year, the airBaltic group's revenue grew to €779.3 million, while losses fell to €44.3 million. The company carried 5.2 million passengers. The Latvian state owns 88.37% of the airline, while Germany's Lufthansa holds 10%.