airBaltic Announces Fourth Repatriation Flight from Dubai to Riga Amid Airport Disruptions
Riga, Latvia – airBaltic is operating a fourth repatriation flight from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, to Riga, Latvia, to assist Latvian citizens seeking to return home following recent disruptions at Dubai International Airport. The airline has been responding to a request from Latvia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and working in cooperation with the Ministry of Transport to facilitate the return of its nationals.
Recent Disruptions at Dubai International Airport
Dubai International Airport temporarily suspended the acceptance and departure of all aircraft on March 7, 2026, for security reasons, following an incident involving falling debris and reports of an explosion after airBaltic flights to Riga had already taken off. The Dubai Media Office announced the suspension, but did not specify when operations would resume.
Repatriation Flight Details
The fourth repatriation flight, BT7756, is scheduled for 19:20 local Dubai time on March 7, 2026, though its operation remains uncertain due to the airport closure. This follows three previous repatriation efforts to bring Latvian citizens home.
Prior to the disruptions, airBaltic had already operated two repatriation flights on Friday, March 6, 2026, with a technical stop in Heraklion, Greece. Each of those flights had 145 seats available. A second flight departed on March 6th and a third was planned.
Latvian Citizens in the UAE
As of March 4, 2026, approximately 624 Latvian citizens were registered in the consular register as needing assistance to leave the UAE. The Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is contacting registered citizens with information regarding participation in the repatriation flights.
Flight Costs and Previous Repatriation Efforts
A co-payment of 350 euros is required from passengers utilizing the repatriation flights. The airline previously announced the cancellation of flights to Dubai and Tel Aviv due to security concerns and airspace restrictions, effective until March 5, 2026.
Ongoing Situation
The situation at Dubai International Airport remains fluid. AirBaltic continues to monitor developments and will provide updates as they become available. Latvian citizens in the UAE are advised to stay in contact with the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the latest information.
Flights from Dubai to Riga are generally available, with prices starting from €256.