airBaltic and Turkish Airlines have announced an expansion of their existing codeshare agreement, adding new destinations that connect key cities across Europe, Central Asia, and the Caucasus. The move is set to provide travelers with greater connectivity, broader route access, and smoother travel experiences between the Baltics and Türkiye’s global hub in Istanbul.
Since 2023, the two airlines have been operating a codeshare on the Riga–Istanbul route. This latest development takes the cooperation further by including several new destinations under the shared codes. For airBaltic, this means its flight code will now appear on Turkish Airlines-operated flights from Istanbul to six additional cities: Tbilisi, Batumi, Ashgabat, Baku, Dushanbe, and Bishkek.
These destinations will offer airBaltic passengers new options to explore the South Caucasus and Central Asia with a single, seamless itinerary. For travelers from the Baltic region, Istanbul becomes more than a stopover—it turns into a strategic connection point linking East and West.
In return, Turkish Airlines will now place its flight code on select airBaltic-operated flights from Riga to three key cities in Northern Europe: Turku and Tampere in Finland, and Palanga in Lithuania. This adds a layer of convenience for Turkish passengers looking to access smaller, regional destinations in the Nordic-Baltic region without needing to transfer between multiple carriers.
The expanded codeshare agreement remains subject to regulatory approvals, but once finalized, it is expected to further increase passenger traffic and network efficiency for both carriers. It will also deepen strategic ties between one of Europe’s fastest-growing regional airlines and the airline that flies to more countries than any other in the world.
This development reflects a growing trend among carriers to form flexible partnerships that improve access to secondary cities and niche markets. By combining resources and routes, Turkish Airlines and airBaltic aim to offer passengers better connectivity and more destination choices without the need for additional aircraft or infrastructure.
As part of the extended collaboration, both airlines will place their marketing flight numbers on these new routes in addition to the existing Riga–Istanbul service. This integration ensures consistent customer experience and opens new travel possibilities for both leisure and business passengers.
For travelers looking to explore beyond the usual European hotspots or reach cities not typically served by direct flights, this codeshare expansion is a welcome change. It’s also a sign that mid-sized carriers are increasingly using partnerships to compete on a global scale.
