A base of the airline "Norwegian" was opened at Riga Airport on April 30th. The establishment of a permanent base will strengthen the company's presence in Latvia. Riga Airport will serve as the base airport for 30 airline pilots and 60 flight crew members, providing direct connections to six destinations.
Norway is currently among the top 10 investors in Latvia and the 12th most significant export partner. With the opening of this base, new opportunities for economic cooperation are foreseen.
Norwegian has been represented in Latvia since 2005, with Riga being the company's largest market in the Baltics. Riga is an appealing destination for both tourists and business people, especially considering its UNESCO World Heritage status. Additionally, the presence of 10,000 Latvians in Norway and Norwegian companies being among the largest foreign investors in Latvia served as additional incentives for opening the base. Overall, there are 236 registered Norwegian companies in the country.
Furthermore, many travelers also use Riga for transit flights. The Norwegian Group is a leading aviation company headquartered in Fornebu near Oslo, with over 8,200 employees and owning two leading airlines in the Nordic countries: Norwegian Air Shuttle and Widerøe’s Flyveselskap.
Norwegian Air Shuttle is Norway's largest airline with approximately 4,700 employees, operating a wide network connecting the Nordic countries with major European destinations. In 2023, Norwegian transported more than 20 million passengers and operated a fleet of 87 Boeing 737-800 and 737 MAX8 aircraft.
Widerøe’s Flyveselskap is not only Norway's oldest airline but also the largest regional airline in Scandinavia, employing over 3,500 people. In 2023, the airline carried 3.3 million passengers and maintained a fleet of 48 aircraft, including 45 Bombardier Dash 8 and three Embraer E190-E2 aircraft. Widerøe Ground Handling provides ground handling services at 41 Norwegian airports.
One of the Norwegian Group's most significant goals is sustainability, with a commitment to significantly reduce carbon emissions. A notable initiative in this regard is investment in sustainable aviation fuel production and utilization.
Read more: https://www.db.lv/zinas/atklata-aviokompanijas-norwegian-baze-riga-516132