RIX Riga Airport Unveils European Connection Growth Opportunities

RIX Riga Airport (RIX) continues to demonstrate robust growth, serving over 7.1 million passengers in 2024—a 7% increase compared to the previous year. The positive momentum has continued into 2025, with more than 3.3 million passengers welcomed through to June.

Providing excellent connectivity to Europe's major cities and popular leisure destinations, RIX's network encompasses nearly 100 destinations during the summer season and over 80 during winter operations, with 11 airline partners.

Latvia's national airline, airBaltic, remains the dominant carrier at RIX, having serviced more than half of the total passenger traffic in 2024. The airline continues to expand its network and frequency, with plans to launch direct flights to Faro, Portugal, beginning September 2025.

The carrier is also strengthening its existing routes, increasing its Dubai service to once-daily during the winter season and adding frequencies to Amsterdam, bringing that route to a triple daily service. Additionally, airBaltic will boost its presence in the Egyptian leisure market, increasing flight frequencies from Riga to both Sharm El-Sheikh and Hurghada to 3X-weekly flights for each destination.

Winter season plans include the resumption of flights between RIX and Dublin Airport (DUB), with 2X-weekly service.

Regarding RIX's long-haul connectivity, Dubai-based carrier flydubai will become the first UAE airline to operate direct flights to Riga. The service to Dubai International (DXB) will operate 3X-weekly beginning December 2025, strengthening the airport's Middle East connections.

Norwegian has launched its RIX to London Gatwick Airport (LGW) service in March 2025, operating up to 4X-weekly during the summer, and also Split and Burgas (1X-weekly) as of June 2025.

To support its growth trajectory, RIX is preparing to move forward with a major terminal expansion project following a meeting with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), which has approved up to €75 million ($85 million) in financing. The expansion project includes a new passenger terminal, a baggage handling and sorting complex, new access roads, and a multi-storey car park.

Looking ahead, RIX has identified several emerging opportunities across the European landscape on its Routes 360 profile. With its expanded infrastructure and growing passenger base, RIX is well-positioned to strengthen its regional connectivity and beyond.

Unserved:

• Stavanger Airport (SVG)
• Zagreb Airport (ZAG)
• Belgrade Airport (BEG)
• Zvartnots International Airport (EVN)
• Baku Heydar Aliyev International Airport (GYD)
• Kutaisi International Airport (KUT)
• Luxembourg Airport (LUX)
• Aberdeen International Airport (ABZ)
• New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
• Greater Toronto Airports Authority (YYZ)
   

Underserved:

• Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER)
• Warsaw Chopin Airport (WAW)
• Bergen Airport (BGO)
• Madrid - Barajas Airport (MAD)
• ANA Aeroportos de Portugal - Lisbon Airport (LIS)
• Athens International Airport (ATH)
• Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG)
• Genève Airport (GVA)
• Nice Cote d'Azur Airport (NCE)

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