In view of the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Latvian airline airBaltic ended the year 2020 with a drop in revenue of 72% and a loss of €256 million, according to information from the airline April 15.
Economy
Due to the Rail Baltica project, frequent changes to the traffic organization are expected in Rīga. Relatively small jobs have now been started, the workers say that everything is still ahead, Latvian Television reported April 13.
The hospitality industry has come up with a campaign “NO to Plastic! YES to outdoor terraces!” with hopes to draw attention of decision-makers and society to challenges in the industry, Latvian Radio reported April 14.
Latvia will introduce the so-called Covid-19 certificate or the European Union's Digital Green Certificate, by mid-June, according the information report prepared by the Ministry of Health presented to government on Tuesday, April 13.
On Tuesday, April 13, Latvian government extended the deadline until which third-country arrivals must carry out a mandatory Covid-19 test on arrival in Latvia, until June 15.
Round 2 of the Salu bridge complex reconstruction is due to take place between April 14 and July 17, and traffic changes will be in place, the Rīga City Council Transport Department said April 13.
At a meeting on Tuesday, April 13, the Cabinet supported amendments to the Law on Ports, which provides for the state takeover of the management of Latvia's largest ports. The draft law has yet to be viewed in the Saeima.
In March 2021, the Latvian national airline airBaltic transported 29,200 passengers, 79% fewer than last year, the airline said in a statement April 13.
A few more details were released April 13 of Latvia's planned participation in the postponed Dubai EXPO event.
Over the last six months, the State Construction Control Bureau (SCCB) has taken 170 samples of traded diesel fuel and 95- and 98-grade petrol fuels and tested them in an accredited laboratory. Non-compliance with fuel standards was established in four cases.
Provisional data released by the Central Statistical Bureau (CSB) April 12 show that in February 2021 the foreign trade turnover of Latvia amounted to EUR 2.33 billion, which at current prices was 4.6 % larger than a year ago,.
The annual public survey on the favorite collector's coin of the year chose the linden leaf coin released November 2020, Latvian Central Bank representatives said April 12.
The Covid-19 pandemic has not only an impact on business and economy but also reshaped cyberspace. The increased use of digital technologies has become the “new normal“ in many organisations. This has created security blindspots for malicious actors that have set their sights also on the Baltics.
E-commerce is rapidly evolving during the Covid-19 pandemic. For shipping suppliers, the hottest working time is generally Christmas, but due to the limits imposed by Covid-19, shipment deliveries skyrocketed. What challenges are international deliverers facing? Latvian Radio spoke to service providers April 12.
In the first quarter of 2021, the number of passengers serviced at Riga International Airport decreased by 91%, according to operational data on the airport's performance during the first three months of the year published April 9.
The latest data published by the Central Statistical Bureau (CSB) April 9 show that in March 2021, compared to March 2020, the average level of consumer prices increased by 0.3 %.
Retailers based in one if Rīga main shopping malls have acted quickly to stay open to the public despite the latest restrictions on whoch types of store can open in large-scale shopping centers.
The rural tourism industry looks forward to 'logical government decisions' that would allow the industry to work in compliance with all the requirements needed to limit Covid-19, the head of the Rural Tourism Association, Asnāte Ziemele, told Latvian Radio April 9.
Computer and telecommunications specialized shops will be able to operate in large malls, government decided on Thursday, April 8.
The Polish-owned AB “Orlen Lithuania” which is engaged in the import and processing of crude oil in Lithuania, has covered the losses caused to Latvia by the oil spill from the Būtingė Terminal, State Environmental Service said April 8.
After several years of rapid growth, Latvian national airline airBaltic was brought back down to earth in 2020 by the Covid-19 crisis. It laid off staff and saw its routes and schedules cut back dramatically. Chairman and chief executive Martin Gauss spoke to LTV to review the situation and outline future strategy in a drastically changed aviation environment. You can watch the full interview above and read an edited version below.
Young entrepreneurs from Madona have developed a business of edible single-use dishes, Latvian Television reported April 7.
As of Wednesday, April 7, many stores, including clothing and footwear stores located outside of malls, are open again. Long lines of customers with even an hour-long wait are forming outside, Latvian Radio reported.
As of Wednesday, specialized shops and small retail sites can reopen their doors to visitors, but tight restrictions hit malls. Frustrated representatives of shopping malls have already reached out to the Rīga City Council to arrange that shops can go outside and sell their products, Latvian Television reported April 6.
Latvia is expecting the fastest economic growth from the Baltic States this year, according to the World Economic spring forecasts published Tuesday by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), LETA reported April 6.
Data compiled by the Central Statistical Bureau (CSB) and released April 6 show that, compared to February 2020, in February 2021 Latvia's industrial production output rose by 1.5 % according to calendar adjusted data at constant prices.
After the easter holidays, from April 7, most smaller retail stores will be able to resume in-person trading, but large shopping malls will still have restrictions in place and only certain stores will be able to work in them, the government agreed on Thursday, April 1.
Estonia will remove the existing travel exceptions for Latvia, Lithuania and Finland and travelers will be required to quarantine on arrival from April 5, ERR News reports.
Latvia's largest milling company, JSC “Dobeles dzirnavnieks” said March 31 it had signed an agreement on the acquisition of the Lithuanian grain processing company “AB Baltic Mill”.
Estonian energy group Utilitas says in April it is starting construction work on a wind park at Tārgale in Ventspils region, ten years after permission for the site was originally granted.