High airfare prices from Riga have once again sparked heated debates on social media. Users complain that flights from Vilnius and Tallinn are often significantly cheaper, and they believe the market is effectively controlled by airBaltic, writes Otkrito.lv.
The issue of high airfare prices from Riga has been discussed for several years. Despite the fact that Riga Airport is the largest in the Baltic States, many residents of Latvia are increasingly having to travel to Vilnius, Tallinn, or even further to take advantage of cheaper flights. This situation has sparked discussions on social media.
The latest wave of discussions was prompted by comments from users sharing their personal experiences in searching for tickets. One common argument is that sometimes it turns out to be cheaper to buy a ticket to Tallinn with a layover in Riga and disembark in the Latvian capital than to fly here directly. Others directly accuse airBaltic of effectively pushing out competitors and dictating prices. Some write that airBaltic is one of the largest and most costly adventures for the state, for which taxpayers will have to pay for a long time. People doubt that the airline truly influences the prices of other carriers and suggest that the key issue lies in airport fees: are we willing to subsidize airlines from the budget to operate flights from Riga, as is done, for example, in Vilnius.
Some share specific examples. A family of four with an infant purchased a trip in March departing from Vilnius because the price difference compared to Riga was about 1000 euros. According to the commenter, yes, there are school holidays in Latvia at that time, but even considering this, such a difference seems excessive.
There are also more restrained opinions. One commenter notes that the problem is not only with airBaltic but also with the overall availability of flights. Previously, he says, two or three airlines flew from Germany to Riga, but now there is effectively only one left. As long as there is flexibility in choosing dates, prices can still be considered relatively friendly.
Particular attention was drawn to an emotional post by a resident of Latvia that went viral on social media. She writes that Latvians have never had a large selection of cheap flights, but now it feels like airBaltic has completely "eaten" the market. Every time she searches for a reasonably priced flight, it almost always turns out to be from Vilnius rather than from Riga.
The author ironically notes that despite the status of the main aviation hub, it is more profitable for residents of Latvia to spend pleasant days in Vilnius for the same money and then fly away than to overpay 300 euros for a flight to a relatively close European city. In a postscript, she preemptively responds to expected comments along the lines of: we don’t need such cheap tickets as in the rest of Europe, and it could be more expensive. According to her, she is always amazed at how willing society is to tolerate inconveniences, considering patience and poverty a virtue, and purchasing cheap goods a sign of a "poor mentality."
