airBaltic and EL AL establish new Codeshare partnership | News
Latvian airline airBaltic and EL AL Israel Airlines have announced a new codeshare agreement, effective July 1, 2026. The partnership will expand travel options for customers and further strengthen airBaltic’s network for transit passengers traveling between Israel and Europe via Riga, Latvia.
Effective July 1, 2026, EL AL will place its LY code on airBaltic-operated flights between Riga and Tel Aviv for both point-to-point and transit passengers. The LY code will also be applied to airBaltic flights between Riga and Copenhagen, Frankfurt, Helsinki, Munich, Oslo, Stockholm, Tallinn, Vienna, Vilnius and Zurich, available to transit passengers traveling to or from Tel Aviv via Riga.
Meanwhile, airBaltic will place its BT code on EL AL-operated flights between Tel Aviv and Amsterdam, Vienna, Munich, Frankfurt, Milan, Berlin and Zurich, available to transit passengers traveling to or from Riga via Tel Aviv.
Mantas Vrubliauskas, VP Network Management at airBaltic: “Israel is an important market for the Baltics, supported by strong cultural ties, family ties, growing tourist flows and expanding business relationships between our regions. We are therefore pleased to partner with EL AL Israel Airlines and expand travel options for passengers in both directions. This agreement will provide customers with more seamless connections while further strengthening Riga’s position as a key gateway between Israel, the Baltics and Northern Europe.”
Shlomi Zafrany, EL AL VP Commercial & Global Sales: “Our partnership with airBaltic joins EL AL’s important partnerships with leading airlines around the world, including Delta Air Lines, Air France, KLM, Virgin Atlantic, SAS and others. In addition to announcing the addition of twelve new destinations to our network in a short period of time, we continue to expand the range of destinations for our customers through additional partnerships with leading airlines.”
Recently, airBaltic announced that as the situation in the Middle East stabilizes and demand grows, it plans to resume direct flights between Riga and Tel Aviv from July 1, 2026, flying three times a week. The resumption will take place according to the recommendations of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the requirements of insurers. Safety remains airBaltic’s top priority and the airline will continue to monitor the situation and adjust its operations as necessary.
airBaltic connects the Baltics with more than 80 destinations in Europe and beyond, making travel easier, more accessible and more convenient for customers across the region. The airline provides essential connectivity that supports tourism, business activities and broader economic development. A full flight schedule is available on the company’s website: www.airbaltic.com.
