The Latvian airline airBaltic will launch two new routes from Riga next spring.

Flights to Russian sports capital Sochi will take off on May 14th next year, following by departures for Kaliningrad on April 16th.

Both routes will offer new travel options for travellers from the Baltics and Russia with convenient connections via Riga.

Wolfgang Reuss, senior vice president of network management at airBaltic, said: “We are delighted to add Sochi and Kaliningrad to our route map next year, increasing the number of new destinations for next year to seven.

“Both routes will strengthen the business and tourism ties between Russia and Latvia, and will create convenient new connections with European and Scandinavian airports.”

He added: “Next summer both Sochi and Kaliningrad will be among the host cities for 2018 FIFA World Cup and the new connection via Riga will offer convenient flight options for those who are planning to attend the championship.”

airBaltic will fly from Riga to Sochi two times weekly, but to Kaliningrad six times weekly.

The flight to Sochi is scheduled to last three hours and ten minutes, while to Kaliningrad it is just 55 minutes.