airBaltic Schedules Third Dubai Repatriation Flight to Riga
airBaltic has announced a third repatriation flight linking Dubai with Riga to assist Latvian nationals affected by the current security situation in the Middle East. The operation is being organised following a request from Latvia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and in cooperation with the Ministry of Transport. The additional service aims to help people who remain in the region return to Latvia.
The flight, numbered BT7756, is planned for 7 March 2026. Departure is scheduled from Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai at 19:20 local time. The aircraft will make a technical stop in Heraklion on the Greek island of Crete before continuing to Latvia. Arrival at Riga Airport is expected at 03:40 local time on 8 March.
Who can apply for seats
- Latvian citizens and Latvian non-citizens
- Family members of Latvian citizens or non-citizens
- Passengers in vulnerable groups, including children and people needing assistance
The aircraft will offer 147 seats. Applications can be filed through an online form, and each request is reviewed separately. Passengers are advised not to travel to the airport until they receive confirmation that a seat has been assigned.
Although the flight is organised mainly to bring people home, it also highlights the network of routes linking the Middle East with northern Europe. The technical stop in Heraklion shows how airlines can use intermediate airports when direct operations become complicated by regional conditions. Airports around the Mediterranean are sometimes used as stopover points when regular flight routes are disrupted.
The additional flight shows how airlines and governments work together when regular travel is disrupted. When scheduled services are cancelled, repatriation flights can help people who remain abroad return home. Flights of this kind are organised under strict safety rules, including checks on airspace access and airport readiness. Because these conditions can change quickly, departures may sometimes be confirmed only shortly before the flight.