Fuelling Hydrants Operating at Riga Airport

07/08/2014

Today, on 7 August, Riga International Airport, in cooperation with SIA “RIXJET RIGA” and the national carrier airBaltic, in an official opening event demonstrated the work of the new aircraft fuelling hydrants built in the airport territory. Riga Airport is the only airport in the Baltics having such a fuel supply system.

“The arrival at the airport of the third fuelling operator SIA „RIXJET RIGA” has helped create a competitive aviation fuel market improving the availability of the fuelling services provided to airlines,” said Aldis Mūrnieks, Chairman of the Board of Riga International Airport.

The fuelling hydrants were constructed with the aim to reduce the time of fuelling in the process of aircraft handling, which is particularly important for cargo aircraft. Besides, the safety level of the aerodrome is raised and the use of vehicles with lower CO2 emissions helps decrease pollution of the environment. In total, 15 hydrants are built in the airport territory.

“The new system will ensure easy and efficient supply of fuel, supporting passenger traffic at Riga Airport and continuing to develop the fast-growing cargo aviation segment. The new infrastructure and service will contribute to the position of Riga as one of the leading airports of the Baltic Sea region. Considering the significance of fuel supply in the overall aviation cost structure, this service may help the airlines decrease the ticket prices for passengers,” said Minister of Transport Anrijs Matīss.

It should be noted that the fuel depot of SIA „RIXJET RIGA” currently has four fuel tanks with the capacity of 1500 cubic metres each; in future two more tanks may be added. Construction of this facility greatly boosts the total capacity of fuel storage tanks of the fuelling operators enabling the airport to continue supplying the airlines with fuel in the serious situation when the delivery of fuel to the airport is interrupted.

“Construction of this modern fuelling system and depot is an investment in the development of Riga Airport too, because the commercial airlines, particularly cargo carriers, will have a convenient, competitive and fast service at their disposal,” added Raimonds Kisiels, Member of the Board of SIA „RIXJET RIGA”.

Currently, three aviation fuelling companies have long-term cooperation agreements with the airport: SIA „RIXJET RIGA”, SIA „Gulfstream Oil” and SIA „Statoil Latvija”.

Riga International Airport is the largest international aviation services provider in the Baltics and the region’s chief air traffic hub ensuring regular passenger traffic and carriage of cargo and mail by civil aviation aircraft to the cities of Europe and other regions.