The trend of passenger traffic at RIGA International Airport year by year:
In December RIGA International Airport handled 317 833 passengers or 15.7 per cent more than in the same period last year (274 709 pax).
Krišjānis Peters, Chairman of the Board of RIGA International Airport, said: „Last year was one of the most successful years in the history of RIGA International Airport. We reached our targets of increasing passenger traffic by 10 per cent, raising the number of direct destinations, attracting new airlines and substantially boosting our position as the regional transfer airport. This achievement is significant both for the nation and for the airport in that it strengthens the competitiveness of RIGA International Airport and its international reputation. It was demonstrated last year by the prestigious Routes and OAG (Official Airline Guide) Award granted to RIGA International Airport as the best airport in the Scandinavian and Baltic regions, and by election of the representative of RIGA International Airport to the board of ACI* Europe .”
K.Peters added: „For the year 2010 we have also set the goal to increase passenger traffic to approximately 4.5 million, add new direct destinations to the existing ones and bring new airlines to the airport.”
In 2009 the airport handled 60 087 aircrafts or five per cent up compared with the previous year (57 232). In December 4 757 aircrafts were serviced that was two per cent more than in December 2008.
Last year 9 429 tonnes of various cargo were handled, or 22.9 per cent more than in 200 8 (7 669 tonnes).
In December the volume of cargo handled by the airport reached 1 068 tonnes exceeding the previous year’s result for the same period by 39.1 per cent.
RIGA International Airport is the biggest air traffic hub in the Baltic countries. From RIGA Airport passengers can fly to 69 direct destinations whereas in the winter season of 2009/2010 there are 61 direct destinations available, with flights operated by 13 airlines.
In 2009 eleven new destinations were opened: Tromsø (Norway), Palanga and Kaunas (Lithuania), Linköping (Sweden, Dushanbe (Tajikistan), Forlì (Italy), Geneva (Switzerland), Tartu (Estonia), Turku and Lappeenranta (Finland) and Pskov (Russia).
*ACI (Airports Council International) is the only worldwide professional association of airport operators. ACI represents more than 1530 airports in 175 countries organised into five geographical regions: Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe, Latin America/Caribbean, and North America.
ACI Europe unites more than 440 airports in 45 European countries. Member airports of ACI Europe handle 90% of commercial air traffic in Europe welcoming over nearly 1.5 billion passengers each year.