AwardWallet receives compensation from advertising partners for links on the blog. The opinions expressed here are our own and have not been reviewed, provided, or approved by any bank advertiser. Here's our complete list of Advertisers.
Delta Airlines and airBaltic announced a new codeshare agreement that came into force with immediate effect. The new agreement will see Delta placing its code on 20 routes to airBaltic hubs, significantly improving access to the region for travel to and from the US.
How the New Delta–airBaltic Codeshare Works
In every major agreement, there tends to be a junior and senior partner, and this one is no different. According to a press statement, this is not a reciprocal codeshare agreement. Instead, Delta Airlines will place its code on 20 airBaltic routes to Riga, Tallinn, and Vilnius.
It is worth noting that, unlike other codeshare agreements, airBaltic will not place its code on any Delta flights. However, considering how small the carrier is, that is no surprise. But this agreement will increase airBaltic’s visibility. Commenting about the agreement, President and CEO of airBaltic, Martin Gauss, said:
“This marks a historic achievement for airBaltic and Latvia as we embark on expanding our network across the Atlantic Ocean. The collaboration with the renowned US partner Delta Air Lines, known for its expansive network and international cooperation infrastructure, holds tremendous opportunities. It will not only attract new passengers to airBaltic but also elevate the Baltics' global visibility and connectivity. We are looking forward to a successful, long-standing collaboration together.”
Why This Deal Makes Sense
A quick look at the Delta Air Lines route map makes it very clear why this agreement makes perfect sense to both parties. airBaltic has three hubs in Riga, Tallinn, and Vilnius, the capital cities of Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania, respectively. Delta does not operate any flights to these cities. Therefore, any Delta SkyMiles travelers heading to the Baltics would have to fly on one itinerary to a European city. Then, they would have to collect their baggage before checking in on a separate itinerary to their Baltic destination.
The codeshare agreement eliminates that. For instance, you should be able to check in at the airport in Atlanta and fly to Riga via a European connection on one seamless itinerary, including baggage handling.
For airBaltic, which does not operate any routes to the U.S., the codeshare also works by letting it access Delta customers and increasing the number of passengers on its flights.
Our Take
The demand for a seamless connection between the Baltics and the U.S. is not the biggest in the world. However, this agreement is welcome news for those who want to fly this route seamlessly on one itinerary.
Hopefully, in the long run, Delta and airBaltic will add even more routes to their codeshare agreement and possibly develop their partnership further. That could include mileage earning, elite status benefits, and much more.
The comments on this page are not provided, reviewed, or otherwise approved by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
