Riga Airport passenger numbers up 10% on year

Take note – story published 6 years ago

Preliminary data released by Riga International Airport on its performance in the first seven months of 2017 show that altogether 3.4 million passengers were serviced during the first seven months of the year, which is 10.1% more than in the same period of 2016.

 

In July this year Riga International Airport handled almost 650 000 passengers, an increase of 16.3% on last July.

The majority - 74.1% had chosen full-service airlines operating at Riga Airport, while 25.9% were served by low-cost carriers.

Transit and transfer passenger traffic during the first seven months of 2017 grew by 18.2%, reaching 998.5 thousand passengers. In July, transit and transfer passengers accounted for 31% of the total number of travellers, which is an increase of 16.9% as compared to July 2016.

"Riga Airport is strengthening its position as an international air traffic hub,” said Ilona Līce, Chairperson of the Board of Riga International Airport.

In the seven months of 2017, cargo traffic at Riga Airport has also grown by 9.7%. It was helped by both the first scheduled cargo route in the Baltics launched by Turkish Cargo from Istanbul, as well as by cargo services to and from Afghanistan provided for the support of foreign military forces in connection with the mission of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) led by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

The number of flights handled at Riga Airport during the seven months increased by 6.7% amounting to 41 810 flights; 60.6% of them were operated by the national airline airBaltic.

This summer season 89 destinations are available to passengers travelling from Riga Airport. Altogether 17 passenger carriers operate flights from Riga Airport: airBaltic, Ryanair, WizzAir, Aeroflot, SAS, Finnair, Norwegian Air Shuttle, Lufthansa, LOT Polish Airlines, Utair, Turkish Airlines, Ukraine International Airlines, RusLine, Uzbekistan Airways, Belavia, Ellinair and Smartlynx Airlines.

But the busy time does come with a downside: the airport is urging even those passengers who have checked in on-line and are travelling with hand luggage only to arrive at the Airport at least 2.5 hours before their flight.

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