- Mount Congreve Gardens is hosting Heritage Week events from 15-23 August 2026 .
- An illustrated talk on Irish follies by Robert O’Byrne takes place on 19 August .
- A free Qi Flow Movement Experience is scheduled for 19 August .
- Children receive free admission with a paying adult and a free activity sheet .
- Proceeds from the talk support the Chinese Pagoda conservation project
AirBaltic has announced a major restructuring that will reduce its Airbus A220-300 fleet by one-third by the end of 2026, a significant reversal from its previous growth ambitions.
The Latvian carrier, which currently operates 54 A220s, now plans to operate 36 aircraft by year-end, with a gradual increase to 40 aircraft by 2031. The revised business plan abandons the earlier target of a 100-aircraft fleet, which had been developed in preparation for a planned initial public offering.
AirBaltic has cited a materially changed operating environment for this strategic shift, including moderated demand and revenue growth, geopolitical uncertainty from events in Ukraine and the Middle East, and continued Pratt & Whitney engine availability constraints.
The restructuring includes a more focused network centred on Riga, with secondary bases providing selected point-to-point services and tactical seasonal flying to improve aircraft utilisation. The airline has also sought €225 million in interim financing to meet near-term liquidity needs, with a permanent recapitalisation package comprising new debt and equity. Scheduled-service available seat kilometres are projected to fall from 9.6 billion in 2026 to 8.7 billion in 2027 before recovering to 10.5 billion by 2031.
