New Zealand boosts defence spend to US$6.6 billion and vows increased closeness with Australia
This budget will be spent over the next four years and nearly doubles the country’s defence spending as part of GDP to 2%.
airBaltic to launch Riga?Tehran service
On 8 June, airBaltic will launch a thrice-weekly service between its Riga base and Tehran, Iran, for passengers travelling via the Latvian capital to/from Europe, Scandinavia, CIS countries, and the Baltic region.
Tero Taskila, chief commercial officer of airBaltic, commented, “Following the previously announced launches of Amman and Beirut, Tehran is already the third destination that airBaltic will start this year in the Middle East – a region that becomes ever more important in the world’s economic and political arena, and that has continued to grow even amidst global recession and generate increasing passenger numbers. The Iranian capital is a major cultural and business centre, and airBaltic will provide a vital link between Tehran and Scandinavia, Europe, CIS countries, Baltic region and our rapidly growing Finnish market.”
Flights to Tehran Imam Khomeini International Airport will operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, with the return flights to Riga on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. The airline will use Boeing 737 aircraft for a flight that will last for four hours and 45 minutes.
In the Middle East, airBaltic serves five destinations – Dubai, Tel Aviv, Amman, Beirut, and Tehran.
You may also like
More from Defence Notes
-
![New Zealand boosts defence spend to US$6.6 billion and vows increased closeness with Australia]()
-
![UK Chancellor commits £2 billion to make the country a “defence industrial superpower”]()
UK Chancellor commits £2 billion to make the country a “defence industrial superpower”
Rachel Reeves announced port upgrades, protected budgets for innovation and investment in novel technologies.
-
![Avalon 2025: Australian defence budget meets the low expectations of show attendees]()
Avalon 2025: Australian defence budget meets the low expectations of show attendees
The Australian Budget was marked by tax cuts and a looming general election which led to little hope that there would be a substantial defence boost even with a big bill for nuclear submarines due.
-
![Launch of Gilat Defense targets DoD market]()
Launch of Gilat Defense targets DoD market
The communications company Gilat launched its new Gilat Defense division at the Satellite 2025 expo, with future solutions aimed at US military customers.
-
![Collins MAPS Gen II to equip US DoD watercraft]()
Collins MAPS Gen II to equip US DoD watercraft
US services have already conducted multiple tests with military maritime systems fitted with the system.
-
![OCCAR expects substantial boost in programme numbers “in the coming months”]()
OCCAR expects substantial boost in programme numbers “in the coming months”
Europe’s Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR) “has to establish itself…as a centre of excellence for cooperative Defence Equipment Programmes” in the face of growing threats and the need for rearmament, according to the organisation’s chairman.
