On 27 October 2026, it will be 35 years since Lufthansa’s first flight to Riga Airport following the restoration of Latvia’s independence. Over the years, Lufthansa has become one of Riga Airport’s most trusted partners, providing regular connections to Frankfurt and access to one of the world’s most extensive international networks of destinations.
Lufthansa commenced operations in Riga on 27 October 1991, at a time when Latvia was restoring its independence and rebuilding economic ties with Western Europe. Establishing a regular air connection with Germany became an important prerequisite for the development of the country’s international connectivity, business environment, and economic relations.
Over the past 35 years, Lufthansa has served more than 3.4 million passengers at Riga Airport. The highest annual passenger volume was recorded in 2014, when the airline carried 213,000 passengers. In 2025, Lufthansa transported 182,000 passengers, while more than 152,000 had already travelled with the airline through Riga Airport by mid-September 2026. Forecasts indicate that Lufthansa’s passenger numbers at Riga Airport will reach at least the level recorded last year by the end of 2026.
Today, Lufthansa accounts for approximately 26% of all passenger traffic between Riga and Germany. The airline plays a particularly important role in the business travel segment, with around half of all business-class passengers travelling between Latvia and Germany choosing Lufthansa services.
In recent years, Lufthansa has accounted for around 2.5% of Riga Airport’s total passenger traffic, despite operating flights from Riga to just one destination: Frankfurt.
“Lufthansa’s arrival in Riga in 1991 marked more than just the launch of a new air route; it symbolised Latvia’s return to the European economic area. For Riga Airport, Lufthansa is an important long-term partner whose role extends far beyond a single scheduled route. Reliable air connectivity with one of Europe’s largest aviation hubs is essential for Latvia’s competitiveness, economic development and international accessibility. It also enables passengers from our region to reach long-haul destinations with just one transfer,” says Laila Odiņa, Chairperson of the Board of Riga Airport.
“For 35 years, the connection between Riga and Frankfurt has brought Latvia closer to Germany, Europe, and the world. What began in 1991, at an important moment in Latvia’s history, has grown into a longstanding and trusted connection that reflects our Lufthansa Group mission of connecting people, cultures, and economies in a sustainable way. Our airlines of the Lufthansa Group offer one of the quickest links from Latvia to the whole world beyond our hubs. We are proud to have accompanied Latvia on this journey and grateful to Riga Airport, our customers, and partners for their trust over the past 35 years. Together, we look forward to continuing this positive development of Latvia and the Baltics in the years ahead,” says Rhonen Azoulay, General Manager Sales Baltics, Czechia, Poland, and Ukraine at Lufthansa Group.
Frankfurt Airport is one of Europe’s most important aviation hubs, providing passengers from Latvia with access to hundreds of destinations across Europe, North America, Asia, the Middle East, and other regions of the world.
The connection to Frankfurt is particularly important for international business, foreign investment attraction, and the development of Latvia’s economic relations with Germany and other global markets.
The value of this partnership is also demonstrated by its continuity through different periods of economic development, including the Covid-19 pandemic. Lufthansa is one of the few foreign airlines that has maintained a continuous presence at Riga Airport for more than three decades.