RIGA International Airport (RIX/ERVA)
New routes and frequency possibilities and why these routes would work
Make no mistake: This airport is booming, defying trends to generate 10% growth in 2009.
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| Paris |
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| Manchester |
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| Budapest |
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| Sofia |
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| Edinburgh |
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starting 29th March 2010Additional unserved routes required by Riga Airport
| Lyon | Cairo |
| Bologna | Yekaterinburg |
| Perm | Luxemburg |
Riga’s continued growth will see throughput exceed 4m this year – prosperity shared with its partners and celebrated by Ryanair, which carried its three millionth passenger to Riga this year. Meanwhile, airBaltic’s hub generated an amazing 1.3million transfer passengers at RIX, an increase of +33%!
Other major reasons to serve this airport
- No. 1 airport for the Baltic states
- Riga is the Capital of Latvia which is the centre of the Baltic States. Latvia’s Eastern Border is with Russia and to the West Latvia has a sea border with Sweden
- All three Baltic states in RIX catchment area provide access to a total 7 million passengers
- Lowest flat fee airport charges in Europe
- RIX is a genuine access point for Russia and CIS countries
- Tourism has increased 21% y-o-y since 2004
The "lowest flat fee airport charges in Europe" also come with great PR support, including the airport's 20,000 circulation magazine, as well as the publications of the Latvian Investment & Development Agency.
Marketing and other support
- Lowest flat fee airport charges in Europe!
- Advertising in key RIX locations free of charge
- Market information, tailor made reports upon request
- PR support, eg. inaugural flight, press launch, assistance with media campaigns etc.
- Full features in airport magazine ‘Gateway’
- For more information see: http://www.riga-airport.com/en/main/b2b/aviation/assistance-with-getting-started-in-rix
Riga’s catchment has a unique blend combining the 7 million population Baltic States and its entrepôt status to Russia (some 28% of the 2.3m Latvian population are also ethic Russians). Latvians themselves are increasingly confident on the world stage – vividly demonstrated by Latvian beauty and style ambassador Anastasija Kondratjeva.
Catchment Area
- 30 min catchment area: up to 500,000
- 60 min catchment area: up to 1 million
- 120 min catchment area: up to 5 million
- 180 min catchment area: all 3 Baltic States = 7million
Under-served freight opportunities and other economic impact factors
May 2009: Canada’s Minister of International Trade, Stockwell Day, meets with Latvia’s President Valdis Zatlers to discuss growing trade ties.
- Latvia is the first and last border for EU and Russia/CIS countries this provides excellent opportunities for cargo flows.
- RIX provides access to Baltic Sea Region from a very cost effective base.
- Freight: cargo for Jan-Oct 2009 increase of 19%
airBaltic has made a tremendous success of its genuine hub strategy at Riga – but you don’t have to transfer – Riga and Latvia have much to offer – the beautiful white sandy beaches of Jurmala are just 15km from the airport.
Geography
- RIX is just 12km from the heart of down town Riga and just 15km from the beautiful white sandy beaches of Jurmala resort.
- RIX is easily accessed by public transport costing just €0.70 from the city centre. There is also a regular direct bus service from the Lithuanian capital Vilnius to RIX.
- RIX is in the centre of the Baltics and therefore captures traffic from all three Baltic States. Vilnius is located at Lithuania’s southern border and loses most of its catchment area to Belarus. Tallinn is located at Estonia’s northern border and therefore loses a lot of its catchment area to Helsinki and the Baltic Sea!
Infrastructure & Operations
- Runways (number and length): 1 runway, 3.2km
- Slot Coordinated?: NO
- Operating hours: 24/7
- Non-Schegen terminal was built in 2006. Transit corridors and new security screening was provided in 2008 to allow RIX to be able to cope smoothly with the drastic increase in transfer passengers. The neat RIX terminal offers a transfer time of just 25 minutes! Runway extension and CATII upgrade was completed in 2008.
- Min. connect time: 25 mins
Important infrastructure developments and/or other news
Because Riga is one of Europe’s few capital city airports to continue to grow in 2009 (+10%), a new terminal expansion is in an advanced stage of planning.
- A new terminal is planned for the near future.
- Investment planned for new baggage handling system
- Business park being developed on 90ha of land
- Transformation of land for MRO hangars covering 42ha.
- Winner of the Best Marketing Airport in Scandinavia and the Baltics 2009, awarded by OAG and Routes. http://www.riga-airport.com/en/main/about-company/facts-about-rix/awards-and-prizes
Vital statistics
- Jan-Oct 2009 3.5 passengers were served at RIX; + 9.5% over 2008. During this period 1.3million passengers were transfer; +33%! There were no domestic passengers during this period. Low cost carriers hold 23% market share at RIX. Charter has just 3.4% market share.
- Freight: cargo for Jan-Oct 2009 is 7,400 tonnes; an increase of 19%.
- Largest carrier: airBaltic with 65% market share Jan-Oct 2009
- 50% of RIX passengers are travelling on business.
Financials
Airport charges: RIX is in the centre of the Baltics and therefore captures traffic from all three Baltic States. Vilnius is located at Lithuania’s southern border and loses most of its catchment area to Belarus. Tallinn is located at Estonia’s northern border and therefore loses a lot of its catchment area to Helsinki and the Baltic Sea!
http://www.riga-airport.com/en/main/b2b/aviation/airlines/airport-charges
