Friday, May 10, the Latvian national airline airBaltic, together with UPB Nams, the Ozola un Bula architect office, and RIX Riga Airport, celebrated the next step in the construction of the Baltic Cargo Hub by inserting a time capsule.
This Baltic Cargo Hub is set to become the largest dedicated air cargo handling center in the Baltics, strengthening RIX Riga Airport's position as a leading air cargo hub. The facility will feature direct access to the apron, making cargo import, export, and transit processes quick and easy.
Martin Gauss, CEO and President at airBaltic: “In 2023, airBaltic delivered over 9 400 tonnes of cargo and mail, maintaining our position as the largest air cargo and mail carrier at RIX Riga Airport. However, with the upcoming replacement of our existing cargo hangar by the Rail Baltica railway track, the construction of the new Baltic Cargo Hub, marks an important development. This state-of-the-art facility will handle up to 45 000 tonnes of cargo annually and cover 6 895 m², making it the largest in Latvia and a leader in the Baltics. Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and geopolitical tensions, this project sets a new standard in air cargo handling, promoting economic growth. The Baltic Cargo Hub represents our commitment to innovation and development, ensuring a prosperous future for airBaltic and the region."
The new Baltic Cargo Hub, will cover 6 895 m² with specialized areas for cargo and offices, featuring advanced semi-automatic Material Handling Systems to enhance efficiency for all types of cargo. It will include temperature-controlled rooms for sensitive materials like pharmaceuticals, as well as facilities for dangerous goods, live animals, and valuables. Additionally, the hub will integrate key services such as the Food and Veterinary Service and a Customs checkpoint. Utilizing Building Information Modeling (BIM) for sustainable construction, the project will be BREEAM certified and expected to complete within 12 months.
airBaltic operates more than 130 routes from Riga, Tallinn, Vilnius, Tampere, and, seasonally, Gran Canaria, offering connections to a wide range of destinations in the airline's route network in Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, and the Caucasus region. A complete schedule of airBaltic flights and tickets are available on the company's homepage at www.airbaltic.com.
For more information, please contact:
airBaltic Corporate Communication Unit
Air Baltic Corporation AS
Email: [email protected]