airBaltic airline
has launched the direct flight
from Riga to Almaty

April 22, 2008
ref.: “Kazpravda”

The Latvian "airBaltic" airline has launched the direct flight from Riga to Almaty on April 18, 2008.

Ceremonial presentation with company executives as well as Ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of Latvia in the Republic of Kazakhstan Mr. Rets Plessums participation was devoted to this exceptional event. The flight launching is new evidence of fact that economic and cultural relations between two independent states leaps forward. The first flight has already demonstrated good filling of aircraft and profound entrepreneurs’ interest of our countries in joint business development.

"airBaltic" airline established in 1995 has become the first airline in Baltic countries which took advantage of “Open Sky” opportunities and has begun working in other countries. During the presentation President and Chief Executive of the company Mr. Bertolt Flik said that "airBaltic" purposefully expands its flight network eastwards. Flights to almost 20 cities of Russia, Ukraine and Transcaucasian republics have already been settled. Totally airline’s aircrafts are accepted in 46 capitals and large centers of Europe and Asia, from Madrid to Tashkent, from London to Tel Aviv.

Upon Latvia’s joining the European Union passenger flow applying airline’s services grows swiftly. If its aircrafts were used by two million persons in 2006, today this figure as is expected will increase by 35 per cents. In the air market "airBaltic" airline offers wide choice of flights at the lowest prices.

Flights on the route Riga-Almaty were carried out in days of USSR, but at that time passengers traveled by old types aircrafts with three stops. At present modern comfortable Boeing 757-200 rises into the air. It departs from Riga every Sunday and Thursday and from Almaty Airport every Monday and Friday. The flight lasts for five and a half hours, and passenger service is carried out in two classes – business and economic ones. Having founded the so-called hub in Riga the airline allows Kazakhstan citizens to travel to many European countries at profitable rates and suitable time between the flights. Carriage from Almaty to Riga amounts about 34 thousand KZT, including airport’s taxes-and-duties, and cost of ticket to Scandinavian countries and German is increased by a negligible margin – up to 48 thousand KZT.

Intensive development of air communication, new routes opening in Kazakhstan is achieved thanks to great role of Almaty International Airport. Six years ago extensive program regarding foreign airlines engagement to flying via the airport was passed. And it is successfully realized. This year we accept aircrafts from Prague belonged to Czech National Airline, from Kiev and Simferopol of three Ukrainian airlines. There are tempting trends regarding new air-lifts opening. For example, agreements on carrying out the scheduled flights from Teheran and Sharjah with companies from Iran and United Arab Emirates accordingly have been reached. Negotiations regarding new routes from Singapore and Vilnius are finished.

- The most modern equipment and high personnel training level are the very factors thanks to which new airlines come to us, - said at the presentation Mr. Igor Knyazhevskiy, Head of International Affairs & Marketing of the Almaty International Airport. - Literally we could say that Almaty International Airport is the best airport within Central-Asian region.

Leader position obliges to be in advance. And nowadays Almaty Airport realizes several innovation projects. The second runway having 4.5 km long and 60 m wide construction is completed. It will be able to accept any types of aircrafts under any meteorology. Building of the second passenger terminal is lasted as well. Its first stage will have capacity 2,5 million passengers per year. Completion of development is planned on the latter half of the next year. It is significant that this terminal can be fearlessly named as airport-city because it will include hotels, parking, conference and business halls, cinemas, and swimming pool. In a word it will include complete air city infrastructure.

Mr. I.Knyazhevskiy also has drawn attention to other significant moments regarding air carriers engagement. Almaty is located in the middle of air routes from Europe to the South-Eastern Asia and back. Heavyweight aircrafts have to land for refueling here. If six years ago only one heavyweight aircraft carried out its landing here, at present quantity of such landings comes to 70 per week. Taking into account rapid economic advancement in Kazakhstan and all region airlines begin operating the flights with commercial rights, i.e. with heavyweight freight delivery to Almaty and its shipping from the city.

Airport is ready to perform this mission as well and it was demonstrated due to launching the scheduled flight from Riga carried out by "airBaltic" airline. Its establishing as it was emphasized at the end of presentation is specified for great interest of Kazakhstan and Latvia’s citizens in economic cooperation, cultural interchange, traveling. It will allow bilateral relations between our states to develop more intensively.