OREANDA-NEWS.   Wizz Air, the largest low-cost airline in Central and Eastern Europe today celebrated the opening of its 17th base in Riga, Latvia. Wizz Air is initially deploying one Airbus A320 aircraft and opening 4 new routes from Riga to Barcelona, Doncaster Sheffield, Dortmund and Paris Beauvais.

Wizz Air is not only adding new flights from Riga, but also increasing the frequencies on the existing services to London Luton and Oslo Torp. Wizz Air is now offering 8 routes to 6 different countries from the Latvian capital. The airline believes its expansion in Riga can stimulate the local job market in aviation and the tourism sector with more visitors now able to travel to Latvia on its low fare services.
Speaking in Riga, Gyorgy Abrun, Chief Commercial Officer at Wizz Air, said: "I am delighted to open Wizz Air’s 17th operating low-cost base with 1 based aircraft in Riga today. This is an important milestone for our presence in the Latvian market and indicates our commitment to offer Latvian consumers and their visitors truly affordable fares from just 14.99 Eur, coupled with an excellent travel experience. Beyond further enhancing the travel opportunities on the Latvian market, we also create a number of local jobs with Wizz Air and our local business partners.”

Anrijs Matiss, Minister of Transport of the Republic of Latvia, said: “I have a very positive opinion of the decision taken by the airline Wizz Air to open its base at Riga Airport. New jobs will be created for the residents of Latvia the new routes will improve people’s mobility offering new travel opportunities. This is a promising commitment for successful future cooperation and it strengthens Riga Airport’s status as the air traffic hub in the Baltics.”

Aldis Murnieks, Chairman of the Board of Riga International Airport, said: “Wizz Air is an important business partner and the airport appreciates the carrier’s commitment to continue the expansion of its operations from Riga. The opening of the base at the airport shows that we are an internationally significant air transport hub that will continue handling the biggest share of the air traffic in the Baltic states.”