SJSC Riga International Airport is the fastest growing airport in the Baltic States. In the first three quarters of 2007 Tallinn airport handled by 10.5%, but Vilnius airport by 14% more passengers over the same period in 2006. The number of passengers increased by 26.5% in the nine months of 2007 compared with the same period in 2006.
In September 2007 Riga airport handled by 29.2% more passengers than in September 2006. In Tallinn and Vilnius the number increased by 15.3% and 17.6 % respectively over the same period.
The number of handled passengers in nine months of 2007 in Riga, Tallinn and Vilnius airports:
- Riga: 2 367 902
- Tallinn: 1 298 667
- Vilnius: 1 284 817
The most popular destination in the eight months of 2007 was London. 242 013 passengers or 11.19% of the total number travelled to the capital of Great Britain. The second favourite destination was the capital of Ireland – Dublin, which was the destination for 173 557 passengers or almost 8% of the total number. Stockholm and Berlin also ranked among the most visited cities with 6.5% and 5.8% passengers respectively. Also, Copenhagen and Frankfurt exceeded 5% margin of the total number of handled passengers.
The national airline airBaltic still enjoys the status of the most successful airline. In the first nine months of 2007 AirBaltic carried 1 060 842 passengers from Riga airport or 44.8% of the total number. 25.3% or 599 945 passengers were carried by the second popular airline Ryanair. Latcharter with more than 123 thousand passengers ranks third, followed by KLM with 84 thousand and Easy Jet Airlines with 69 thousand passengers.
In Riga International Airport the extension of runway and reconstruction of lightening system continued. It is planned to finish these operations in November 2008. After extension the runway will be 650 metres longer. Taxiway Delta was put into operation in September.
In September in Riga airport several new services were introduced. The ones living outside European Union may receive refund of value added tax in currency exchange office of C departure hall. Airport offers also baggage-packing service. Passengers now can receive bags for liquids free of charge. In zone behind security control several beverage machines are installed and Hugo Boss Gant shop is opened.