Riga Airport seeks to become a north European air traffic hub

Among what is an increasing number of positive statements being made by airport managers about infrastructure investment, Latvia's Riga International Airport has committed to sticking with its 'sustainable' investment plan, so that it can compete with other airports with the aim of becoming a Northern European air traffic hub.

During the summer of 2020, with the support of the (EU) Cohesion Fund and its own funds, a number of large-scale investment projects worth more than EUR15 million were implemented at Riga Airport.

With so many competitors for that mantle across the region, Riga has got its work cut out, but the direction airBaltic has taken, especially with its fleet selection, could help the airport towards achieving that goal.

The potential is for Europe-Russian Federation hubbing and the development of long haul, with associated short haul feed, and airBaltic is well placed to do the former, having centralised its fleet on the A220 (the old Bombardier C-series). The airline is well positioned to set up a regional 'low cost' hubbing operation that could challenge the majors at their legacy hubs.