The new strategy of Riga Airport: Investments in future development and regional competitiveness

Credit: Riga International Airport (RIX)

Riga International Airport’s (RIX) future strategy details that through developing its range of destinations, increasing its number of passengers and cargo turnover, investing in an advanced and sustainable airport infrastructure and services, Riga Airport has set a goal to become a significant aviation centre of Northern Europe in the coming years, promoting the connectivity and competitiveness of Latvia within the region.

The strategy has seen revision and updates on Riga Airport’s goals, mission and vision, creation of new carriage forecasts, inclusion of principles for the company’s corporate management and sustainability activity, updates to development plans and projects, as well as renewed investment plan and financial performance to be achieved by 2027.

The new strategy provides for achieving nine million passengers and 48.5 thousand tonnes of air cargo serviced per year by 2027, as well as increased punctuality in departures. At the same time, it includes green goals to reduce carbon emissions. The annual net turnover of the airport in 2027 aims to achieve 77 million euros, while 247 million euros in total investment will be exceeded during the strategy’s activity period.

Northern European air traffic hub

“The growth rates during the pre-pandemic years evidence stable and unquestionable leadership of Riga Airport in the Baltic States. Thanks to successful development of infrastructure, growth of the national carrier airBaltic, a competitive tariff policy, and by using the advantages provided by the geographic location, Riga Airport has positioned itself as a regional air traffic hub in Northern Europe,” says Laila Odiņa, Chairperson of Riga Airport Board.

This ambitious goal can be achieved by strengthening and increasing the direct connectivity from Riga, maintaining a large number of transfer passengers, offering advanced services and a high service level to passengers, improving the effectiveness of processes, implementing innovations, and promoting the development of the aviation industry, as well as keeping and attracting highly qualified specialists. It will be achieved by developing the airport’s training centre into an exportable training organisation RIX Airport Training Academy accredited by Airports Council International (ACI) and providing consulting and a full range of training in the primary activity areas of the airports.

From an airport to an airport city

Our airport future strategy provides for the development of the airport city concept, which offers not only aviation services, but also creates business ecosystems, ensures excellent connections, and offers new opportunities both for the residents and development of businesses, which are not directly related to aviation sector.

The future city centre of Riga Airport will include the new airport passenger terminal with an area of 30,000sqm and the capacity to serve up to 12 million passengers annually. It will also be connected with the Rail Baltica railway station to form a unified and multi-modal transport hub. Airport business city RIX Business Park will be developed around it to offer hotels, office centres, logistics, air cargo and e-commerce warehouses, creating development possibilities for a great variety of business and creating new jobs.

“We will develop the RIX Airport City as a multi-modal traffic and logistics centre connecting various modes of transport and creating a successful environment for business development. By ensuring varied services, work, meetings, knowledge exchange, and recreation for travellers and local residents, Riga Airport will be formed into a self-sufficient destination,” says Artūrs Saveljevs, Riga Airport Board Member.

Responsibility for the environment

Riga Airport’s strategy, Runway 2027, also provides for the implementation of significant measures in sustainability so that the airport’s long-term business success, strategic goals and tasks are achieved by responsible and balanced actions in all aspects of sustainability: impact on climate change, effective use of resources, environmental, and nature protection goals, economic impact of the airport, employment, transparent management, involvement of the local community, and reduction of noise.

By joining the international Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA) programme and Airport Council International (ACI EUROPE), and Net Zero 2050 initiative, Riga has determined its green deal and set specific climate goals with a commitment to become a climate-neutral airport by 2050. The company’s strategy includes this goal; the airport, together with its partners, will search for environment and climate friendly solutions by optimising processes, developing technologies, and implementing innovations.

Sustainability goals have been set in detail in the company’s Sustainability Strategy approved this January (2022) providing implementation of almost 200 activities in various sustainability areas by 2030, including installation of a solar panel park, replacement of aerodrome machinery with more environmentally friendly alternatives, significant investments in increasing energy efficiency, waste management, and economical use of water resources.

Investments in future development

The investment plan of Runway 2027 sets long-term investment priorities: 155 million euros for expanding the passenger terminal, including the necessary financing for the introduction of automatic luggage sorting system, as well as construction of roads, viaducts, and car parks. Also, 58 million euros have been intended for investments into the aerodrome infrastructure, which includes both reconstruction and renovation of aircraft aprons and taxiways, as well as the replacement of aerodrome transport machinery, full transition of apron lighting to LED luminaires, and any other necessary investments.

“Our development forecasts and necessary investments are based on international forecasts on recovery of the aviation industry after COVID-19, regional aviation market analysis, and assessment of Riga Airport potential and advantages, as well as careful and realistic calculations when analysing various scenarios and various options for attraction of financing. Considering the ambitious scope of investments in recent years, Riga Airport plans to attract both EU structural funds and credit institution financing for the implementation of investment projects, as well as issue bonds,” adds Normunds Feierbergs, Airport Board Member.