RYANAIR has announced it is cutting more flights from one of Europe’s cheapest cities.
As a result of rising costs, the budget airline will reduce its winter capacity to the capital of Latvia.
Ryanair has cut seven routes to the Latvian capital[/caption]
Riga is a popular city and was declared the most affordable for a weekend break[/caption]
Ryanair is reducing its services to Riga by 160,000 seats and it will cut seven international routes.
One of these axed routes is from Edinburgh – as well as Aarhus, Berlin, Gdansk, Gothenburg, Memmingen, and Paris Beauvais.
The reason is rising access costs in terms of airport fees and aviation tax.
Ryanair stated that this makes Riga less competitive than other routes and there is a lack of demand to the city.
Ryanair’s CCO, Jason McGuinness, said: “While countries like Albania, Poland, Sweden, and Italy are lowering access costs and abolishing aviation taxes to stimulate traffic growth, rising costs at Riga Airport is stifling expansion and putting hundreds of jobs at risk.
“Recently the Latvian Govt. and Riga Airport have committed to improving the competitiveness of Latvian Aviation, subject to which Ryanair will prioritise Latvia for more low-fare seats, new routes, and additional based aircraft.
“We are working with Riga Airport and the Latvian Govt. and hope in the near future to grow traffic, tourism, and jobs.”
According to Skyscanner, the last direct flight between Edinburgh and Riga departs on November 2, 2025.
Riga is known for its beautiful buildings, cobbled Old Town and for tourists, it’s easy to get around because the city is fairly flat.
There is a popular spot that requires a steep climb which is the 13th-century St Peter’s church, and it has a 400ft spire.
The city is known for its historic buildings and cobbled streets[/caption]
Another iconic spot in the city is Riga Central Market – a large marketplace which is home to five pavilions.
In May 2025, Riga was named Europe‘s best value city for a short break by the Post Office Travel Money City Costs Barometer.
A weekend away to Riga costs just £253 for two people and the added food and drink is affordable too.
On average, a cup of coffee in Riga was found to cost £2.80 and beer at £3.50.
Return airport or bus transfers were relatively cheap as well costing £3.50 on average.
Recently, Ryanair also revealed it would be low-cost airline is axing a number of flight routes in Germany during the winter season.
According to local media, Memmingen Airport will be the worst affected with 27 flights a week scrapped.
Berlin will also see 76 flights axed in January, with just 170 of 246 operating, while Cologne will lose 44.
Here’s more information as Ryanair is set to axe another 1.2million seats to Spain next year.
And here’s another European country where Ryanair has axed hundreds of flights.
Ryanair is axing a route between a Scottish city and the capital of Latvia[/caption]
