RIGA, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- Latvia's airBaltic carrier flew over 4.1 million passengers in 2018, setting a new record and raising the figure by 17 percent against a year before, the company said Wednesday.
AirBaltic CEO Martin Gauss credited last year's success to the company's highly efficient hybrid business model, loyal passengers and dedicated staff.
"In addition to our new aircraft, we were able to continue our sustainable growth and build the groundwork for future success," Gauss said in a statement to the press.
The head of the airline informed that airBaltic plans to open at least six new routes in 2019 and to increase capacities on various other destinations.
Last year, airBaltic performed 56,261 flights, or 12 percent more than in 2017, and the airline's load factor was 75 percent in 2018, the company's representatives said.
The airline operates flights from Riga, Tallinn and Vilnius to over 70 destinations.
An 80.05 percent stake in airBaltic belongs to the Latvian state, and Danish businessman Lars Thuesen owns nearly 20 percent of airBaltic shares.
