Thursday, June 26, 2025
airBaltic and Turkish Airlines have expanded their strategic partnership through a bold new phase of codeshare cooperation aimed at unlocking access to rapidly growing destinations across Europe, the Caucasus, and Central Asia. This move not only enhances regional and intercontinental connectivity but also responds to increasing demand for seamless travel options through both carriers’ major hubs in Riga and Istanbul. By integrating additional routes into their shared network, the airlines are strategically positioning themselves to capture rising passenger flows and strengthen their competitive edge in emerging markets.
airBaltic and Turkish Airlines Expand Codeshare Partnership to Unlock New Regional and International Destinations
Latvia’s airBaltic and Türkiye’s national flag carrier, Turkish Airlines, have deepened their strategic partnership by expanding their existing codeshare agreement to include new routes across Europe, Central Asia, and the Caucasus.
Since 2023, both carriers have cooperated under a codeshare model on flights connecting Riga and Istanbul, offering passengers enhanced convenience and connectivity. Now, the partnership has grown significantly, enabling each airline to access fresh markets and extend their global reach through shared routes.
As part of this upgraded agreement, airBaltic will now place its flight code on several Turkish Airlines-operated routes originating from Istanbul. These include key destinations such as Tbilisi in Georgia, Batumi on the Black Sea coast, Ashgabat in Turkmenistan, Baku in Azerbaijan, Dushanbe in Tajikistan, and Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan. These additions will allow airBaltic customers to seamlessly connect to these important cities via Istanbul.
In a reciprocal move, Turkish Airlines will add its code to airBaltic-operated flights departing from Riga to three destinations in Northern Europe. These include Turku and Tampere in Finland, along with Palanga in Lithuania. This development boosts Turkish Airlines’ footprint in the Baltics and Nordic region.
The launch of these new codeshare routes is subject to necessary regulatory approvals. Once finalized, passengers will benefit from streamlined bookings, coordinated schedules, and the convenience of traveling under a single ticket for multiple destinations across a much broader network.
This move underscores both airlines’ commitment to improving connectivity and offering more travel options through synergistic cooperation. It also reflects a shared strategy to respond to rising passenger demand for flexible travel choices and efficient transit routes through regional and intercontinental hubs.
Pauls Cālītis, Interim CEO and COO of airBaltic: “We are glad to take the next step in our partnership with
Turkish Airlines. This collaboration provides even more travel opportunities for Baltic passengers through
Turkish Airlines’ extensive global network. At the same time, travellers from Türkiye can now enjoy greater
access to airBaltic’s destinations across the Baltics and Northern Europe. We look forward to continuing
this successful cooperation.”
Mr. Bilal Ekşi, CEO of Turkish Airlines: “We are pleased to further strengthen our partnership with
airBaltic. This expanded codeshare agreement reflects our commitment to offering more travel options and improved connectivity for our passengers. As the airline flying to more countries than any other, we will continue bridging continents and cultures through strategic collaborations and a growing network.”
As part of the enhanced partnership, airBaltic and Turkish Airlines will each apply their respective flight codes to the newly introduced routes, building on their ongoing service between Riga and Istanbul. This enhanced agreement continues to draw increasing passenger interest by providing smoother travel options and more efficient connections through each airline’s primary hub.
In summary, airBaltic and Turkish Airlines have significantly broadened their strategic codeshare alliance, opening doors to fast-growing destinations throughout Europe, the Caucasus, and Central Asia. This move enhances connectivity, broadens their route networks, and positions both carriers for stronger regional and global growth.
