The recent addition of an Embraer Lineage 1000 brings Latvia-based Union Aviation’s fleet size to 12 aircraft, and positions the company as only the third aviation operator in Europe to have one. So far, it has been flying not only the company's most popular routes, but has been to the most exotic corners of the world as well. One of its first flights was a visit to Australia, in January 2024. “For us this means that our fleet has been to every continent now, except Antarctica,” says head of administration Tatiana Glukhova.

The spacious and luxurious aircraft, based on the Embraer 190, was officially unveiled in Riga on 21 December and serves as the company flagship; its tail number is YL-UAG and it was manufactured and commissioned in 2014.

The light-coloured cabin is configured into five passenger zones; the first laid out with four club seats and foldable tables, the second features a divan seat and two single clubs with a foldable table, the third and fourth include a lounge and office with a long divan, single club seats and a sideboard with a 32" LCD screen, and the fifth is furnished with a divan and two club seats with a foldable table. This all makes it ideal for 20 hour flight.

"The winds led us to Australia," says Lineage flight attendant Laura Luse. "It is clearly a dream destination for many, but we have never been so far away from our home base in Riga, Latvia. We were so excited when preparing for this journey, and then once we had taken off we saw two sunsets during the whole flight. We landed safely in Melbourne Tullamarine airport having started our journey midday out of Larnaca International airport in Cyprus. We refuelled the aircraft twice, once in Dubai and again in Singapore.

"Our clients were heading to the Australian Open tennis tournament held annually at Melbourne Park, and we took great pleasure in making this journey on the Lineage 1000 extraordinary for them."

On such a long haul flight, especially travelling with a family, the key is to have a spacious cabin. There are a lot of jets on the market today, but it is hard to beat the spaciousness and generous seating arrangements that the Lineage 1000 has to offer. And as well as being extremely spacious, it is very comfortable, thanks to the stabilisers and turbulence detection technology.

"The whole journey was pleasant, no specific challenges," Luse adds. "For the crew, any red-eye flights can be a bit challenging, travelling across many time zones. But the Lineage 1000 has a wide crew rest area that is especially useful on long-haul flights."

Clients seem to love the cabin. "If you saw it, you’d understand," she says. It has a stand-up height of six feet seven inches, and it is long and wide, double the size of any aircraft with comparable range. The lowest cabin altitude of any ultra-large jet, at 7,000ft, lessens the effects of long haul flying.

Coming up are a couple of trips between Europe and the Middle East and another long haul trip to Bangkok through Don Mueang International airport.