Drastic changes to airBaltic flight prices: conventional routes are now up to 4 times more expensive

At the beginning of February, the flight from Vilnius to Riga cost 212 Eur

Delphi Reader Tom noted the extremely high ticket prices from Vilnius to Riga charged by Latvian airline airBaltic in February.

“In February, airBaltic started to apply a travel pricing policy that is not very suitable for the Vilnius to Riga market: the cheapest ticket value for a flight from Lithuania to Latvia is 212 euros.

You have to pay so much to get to Riga by plane in the last days of January and throughout the month of February, but for the trip on March 1 you can buy a ticket for 39 euros ”, he points out.

The reader is considering that perhaps in this way the airline, taking advantage of the monopoly conditions for flights between Vilnius and Riga, is trying to make more profit or the Vilnius Airport has drastically increased its fares.

According to the official website of airBaltic, the ticket price from Vilnius to Riga is currently EUR 126, and in both directions EUR 224. A few days ago, the prices were much higher: one way – 212 Eur, in both directions – 366 Eur. At that time, in March, the price of the one-way ticket was only 39 euros.

Ticket prices have increased up to 4 times.

However, in February the price of a plane ticket from Vilnius to Riga became more expensive, but also to other European cities.

Here’s the ticket price for the Vilnius-Amsterdam flight at this time and for the entire month of February. it reaches 195 Eur one way, in both – 267 Eur, and in March the ticket price does not reach 100 Eur one way.

Ticket price Vilnius-Barcelona – 325 Eur one way, both – 468 Eur. After a month, the ticket will become cheaper 3 times: in both directions – 154 Eur, in one – 84 Eur.

Interestingly, the price for a one-way flight or both between Vilnius and Berlin in February is almost the same: 200 EUR and 211 EUR respectively. March – 49 Eur and 90 Eur.

Currently you can fly and return to Athens for 760 Eur, in March – 395 Eur and in April – 196 Eur.
The price of the flight from Vilnius to Dublin and back in February is 463 euros, in March 4 times less – 112 euros. It costs 407 euros to cut in one direction at the moment and 97 euros in March.

Vilnius – London (Gatwick airport) ticket price in both directions – 246 Eur, one – 168 Eur, in March 119 and 76 Eur, respectively.

The flight to Bergen (Norway) and back to Vilnius currently costs 470 Eur, in March – 258 Eur. One way in February – 325 Eur, and in March 128 Eur.

Vilnius – Kiev – probably the only direction where the ticket price in February and other months is the same: 69 Eur in both directions, 39 Eur in one.

AirBaltic adjusts prices due to lower passenger demand

AirBaltic discussed the reasons why airfares increased so dramatically in February.

“The prices offered are influenced by several reasons. The top three are flight costs, market competition conditions, and passenger demand. It is very important to note that the fare structure for each route can vary from 20 to 30 different fare categories.

AirBaltic recently introduced a new temporary rate structure for February. Due to the limited nature of leisure travel in most of Europe, we have adjusted our prices to meet the demand of existing travelers. As soon as the demand for leisure and leisure travel begins to recover, airBaltic plans to end this temporary measure, ”the company said in a comment.

Airlines also note that passengers can book tickets for a network of more than 70 seats in advance (up to a year). When booking a ticket, the passenger is always offered the best price available at that time.

In summer, Vilnius plans to operate flights in 11 directions

In December of last year, airBaltic announced a flight schedule for the upcoming summer season, starting on March 28 this year. The Vilnius airline plans to operate flights in 11 directions and introduce five new travel directions from Riga.

2021 AirBaltic plans to offer passengers direct flights from Vilnius to Amsterdam, Berlin, Paris, Dubrovnik, Kiev, London, Munich, Oslo and Tallinn, as well as convenient connections through Riga.

The company plans to introduce new routes from Riga to Manchester (UK), Ekaterinburg (Russia), Yerevan (Armenia), as well as Bergen and Trondheim (Norway).

AirBaltic airline recently announced that 195,000 flights were made last year from Lithuania to its network connecting Europe, Scandinavia, Russia, the CIS and the Middle East. passengers. This is 63 percent. less than the previous year, in 2019.

2020 In Vilnius, airBaltic increased its market share from 9 to 14 percent and carried a total of 1,340,000 passengers and 22,300 flights in the three Baltic countries.