The Latvian airline airBaltic has started a new direct flight service from Ljubljana Airport to Gran Canaria. The flights will operate every Friday until early April 2026, with an estimated flight time of five hours. This route is the second direct destination that airBaltic offers from Ljubljana, in addition to its existing twice-weekly service to Riga.
Mantas Vrubliauskas, Vice President of Network Management at airBaltic, commented on the launch: “We are pleased to further expand our operations from Ljubljana with the launch of direct flights to Gran Canaria. This new route offers travelers the opportunity to experience the island’s golden beaches, volcanic landscapes, and year-round pleasant climate, while also creating new possibilities for visitors from Spain to discover Slovenia. It marks our second route from Ljubljana, complementing the existing year-round connection to Riga.”
Dr. Babett Stapel, Managing Director of Fraport Slovenija, stated: “We are delighted to welcome airBaltic’s new direct service between Ljubljana and Las Palmas, further enhancing the connectivity of our airport. The route further improves travel options for Slovenians seeking a comfortable journey to one of their favourite leisure destinations. This addition to our flight network reflects the strong partnership we enjoy with airBaltic, major Slovenian tour operators, the vital support of the Ministry of Infrastructure through its subsidy program, and our shared efforts to enhancing air travel opportunities to and from Slovenia.”
The introduction of this route is supported by an incentive program from the Slovenian government under its Public Tender for Enhanced Air Connectivity. This initiative is part of broader measures aimed at improving international connections for Slovenia.
Mag. Andrej Rajh, State Secretary at the Ministry of Infrastructure, explained: “The establishment of the Gran Canaria–Ljubljana–Gran Canaria route is also the result of the eighth public tender for subsidizing airport charges at Ljubljana Airport. The Ministry of Infrastructure is implementing these calls as one of the key measures to strengthen Slovenia’s air connectivity, which continues to improve. In 2025, Slovenia recorded a significant increase in air connectivity among 31 European countries, reflecting the government’s targeted efforts to enhance international links. In 2022, passengers could fly to 20 destinations from Ljubljana Airport; this year, that number has grown to 26. A total of 977,316 passengers were recorded in 2022, while in 2024 the figure had already reached 1.44 million – an increase of nearly 50 %. By the end of August this year, more than one million passengers had already been recorded, indicating that 2024’s figures are likely to be surpassed. With the new public tender closing today, the Ministry aims to extend subsidies for existing carriers and attract new airlines that meet all the tender’s requirements.”
airBaltic will use Airbus A220-300 aircraft on this route. These planes offer features such as wider seats and larger windows and provide more cabin baggage space for passengers.
In addition to Gran Canaria flights and services connecting Ljubljana with Riga—airBaltic’s main hub—passengers can continue their journeys across other Baltic states or connect onward toward Finland or Scandinavia as well as over eighty destinations within airBaltic’s network.
airBaltic has operated for three decades and connects Baltic countries with eighty cities across Europe as well as parts of North Africa and Western Asia.
