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Oulu Airport welcomes the launch of Air Baltic’s new Oulu–Riga route

Article published
31.3.2026 at 09:57
AirBalticin ensilento Oulusta Riiaan
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Early on Monday morning, 30 March 2026, Oulu Airport celebrated the official launch of Air Baltic’s new direct route to Riga. The new service between Oulu and the Latvian capital Riga will be operated five times a week.

The new route strengthens connections between Northern Finland and the Baltic region. From Oulu, travelers gain even better access to destinations across Europe, while the connection also attracts visitors from the Baltic states and elsewhere in Europe to the region. The flight schedule has been designed to provide smooth onward connections: For passengers departing from Oulu the early-morning departure to Riga offers efficient transfers from Riga Airport to the rest of Europe.

The year 2026 is a special one for Oulu, as the city serves as the European Capital of Culture, increasing its international visibility and boosting visitor numbers.

Photo: To celebrate the occasion, passengers on the inaugural flight were offered morning coffee.

The connection will operate five times a week, on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturday, from 29 March until the end of October 2026. The route is flown with a 148-seat Airbus A220-300 aircraft.

Photo: Air Baltic’s inaugural flight aircraft at Oulu Airport.

Photo: Air Baltic’s inaugural flight aircraft ready to welcome its first passengers from Oulu Airport.

In addition to Oulu Airport, Air Baltic operates scheduled flights from Tampere, Turku and Helsinki Airport. Next winter, the airline will launch five new direct routes from Kuusamo Airport.

Main photo: The crew and cabin staff of the inaugural flight were present to greet passengers, and the event was hosted by Oulu Airport Manager, Liisa Sallinen from Finavia.

Read more:

New route from Oulu Airport to Riga this spring | Finavia

Five new direct flights to Kuusamo for the 2026–2027 winter season – Air Baltic launches routes from the United Kingdom, Germany and Latvia | Finavia