This year Riga International Airport has provided services to 4.4 million travellers or 60 percent of the entire number of passenger traffic handled by Vilnius, Tallinn and Riga airports. In comparison, Tallinn Airport has handled 1.6 million and Vilnius Airport - 1.4 million passengers.
In 2011 passengers have mostly used Riga International Airport to go to/from Germany – 506 320, the United Kingdom – 492 417 and Finland – 415 579 passengers. It should be noted that the passengers have given the greatest preference to the airlines airBaltic, Ryanair and Wizz Air.
„In the winter season the number of destinations available at the airport will be increased by two new ones: to Leeds (U.K.) and Eindhoven (the Netherlands), which will make 88 various destinations that can be reached from Riga,” said Arnis Luhse, Chairman of the Board of Riga International Airport.
Of the total number of 4.4 million passengers welcomed at the airport 1.6 million were transfer/transit passengers who mostly chose the airlines airBaltic, Uzbekistan Airways and Aeroflot for their trips. The most popular destinations of the transfer/transit passengers were Vilnius, Tallinn, Helsinki, Moscow and Barcelona.
In the 10 months of 2011 Riga International Airport has handled 10 percent more passengers, 8 percent more aircraft and 3 percent more cargo than in the corresponding period of 2010.