About Riga international airport
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Riga Technical University
Faculty of Engineering Economics
Riga international airport
Riga 2004
|Contents |
|1 |1 291 |1 340 |1 299 |-3.1 |
|2 |1 349 |1 338 |1 290 |-3.6 |
|3 |1 516 |1 545 |1 572 |1.7 |
|4 |1 443 |1 493 |1 699 |13.8 |
|5 |1 744 |1 728 |1 680 |-2.8 |
|6 |1 600 |1 783 |1 654 |-7.2 |
|7 |1 464 |1 622 |1 694 |4.4 |
|8 |1 650 |1 839 |1 747 |-5.0 |
|9 |1 602 |1 694 |1 623 |-4.2 |
|10 |1 645 |1 682 |1 653 |-1.7 |
|11 |1 479 |1 540 |1 430 |-7.1 |
|12 |1 287 |1 306 |1 335 |2.2 |
|Total: |18 070 |18 910 |18 676 |-1.2 |
Table 1. Aircraft movements
Passenger figures exceed 600 000, i.e. by 1.7% more than in 2001 for
the second consecutive year. Altogether, the airport handled 18 676 flights
falling behind the previous report year by 1.2% due to “Austrian Airlines”,
“Estonian Air” and the Swedish airline “Trygg-Flyg” deceasing flights to
Riga.
For the third year air cargo transportation has grown considerably
with turnover exceeding 6 000 tons for the first time, i.e. by 26.3% over
the previous year. Cargo transportation import (78.2%) still significantly
exceeds export (21.8%).
To achieve these results the airport staff had to be more purposeful,
determined and competent than in the previous report period.
12 carriers including “Air Baltic”, “Aeroflot”, “Austrian Airlines”,
“Belavia”, “British Airways”, “?SA”, “Estonian Air”, “Finnair”, “Latpass
Airlines”, “LOT”, “Lufthansa” and “Trygg-Flyg” provided scheduled passenger
flights from “Riga” airport in 2002.
Scheduled direct flights linked Riga with 16 European cities including
Berlin, Frankfurt, Helsinki, Jonkoping, Kiev, Copenhagen, London, Moscow,
Minsk, Prague, Stockholm, Tallinn, Tel Aviv, Warsaw, Vilnius and Vienna.
|Month |2000 |2001 |2002 |2002/2001(%) |
|1 |302 |346 |502 |45.1 |
|2 |323 |371 |473 |27.5 |
|3 |400 |449 |559 |24.5 |
|4 |346 |421 |561 |33.3 |
|5 |359 |485 |379 |-21.9 |
|6 |350 |446 |428 |-4.0 |
|7 |346 |429 |354 |-17.5 |
|8 |424 |438 |403 |-8.0 |
|9 |430 |395 |546 |38.2 |
|10 |507 |451 |685 |51.9 |
|11 |386 |529 |573 |8.3 |
|12 |485 |449 |1 117 |148.8 |
|Total |4 658 |5 209 |6 580 |26.3 |
Table 2. Cargo transportation (t)
Major passenger flows and routes of scheduled flights.
In 2002 the flight map changed slightly with “Air Baltic” exploring
new destinations and starting flights to Berlin in May and later to Vienna.
Additionally, “Air Baltic” resumed flights to Moscow, Warsaw and Prague,
which had been suspended as unprofitable the previous years. Thus, the
Latvian aviation market was considerably divided. “Air Baltic” improved its
position, but “Austrian Airlines” discontinued flights from Vienna to Riga
due to the imposed flight reduction. In comparison with the last year, the
dynamics of passenger growth for the above destinations dropped
considerably by 885 on the Warsaw route, 22.8% on the Vienna route and
17.3% on the Moscow route.
|Month |2000 |2001 |2002 |2002/2001(%) |
|1 |35 235 |38 681 |38 377 |-0.8 |
|2 |35 637 |38 243 |37 477 |-2.0 |
|3 |45 454 |46 510 |45 393 |-2.4 |
|4 |45 087 |48 154 |48 420 |0.6 |
|5 |54 308 |57 248 |55 802 |-2.5 |
|6 |56 017 |68 036 |63 980 |-6.0 |
|7 |53 123 |61 247 |62 114 |1.4 |
|8 |56 140 |67 041 |62 485 |-6.8 |
|9 |55 810 |60 879 |63 294 |4.0 |
|10 |51 645 |51 872 |61 270 |18.1 |
|11 |44 804 |43 924 |49 357 |12.4 |
|12 |41 096 |40 812 |45 353 |11.1 |
|Total |574 356 |622 647 |633 322 |1.7 |
Table 3. Passenger movements
In 2002 73 passengers out of every 100 handled in Riga (including
transit) travelled to or from Western Europe. Altogether scheduled flights
to Western Europe were responsible for the growth of passengers figures
(almost 11 000). Berlin, with the highest passengers growth rate ranks
first among the cities of Western Europe (it should be mentioned, however,
that in 2001 there were no scheduled flights on this route); followed by
London with 6.9% and Frankfurt with 6.4%. However, there is an exception.
For the first time passengers figures on the Helsinki route have dropped by
almost 3 000 or 3.9% in comparison with the last year. Nevertheless,
Helsinki ranks 2 nd on the list of the most popular destinations. For the
second successive year passenger figures on the Stockholm route have
dropped sharply by almost 14 000 or 21%. Accordingly, a Stockholm rank 6th
instead of the previous 3rd, but the Copenhagen has constantly been number
one since 1996, despite a passenger growth rate, which has slowed down on
the route.
In 2002 passenger figures for Eastern and Central Europe have grown
slightly. Some destinations have faced radical changes. As in previous
years, passengers figures decreased by 17.3% on the Moscow route. For the
second year after resuming scheduled flights on the Tallinn route passenger
figures went down by 11.4%. Passengers figures on the Prague route
increased significantly by 27.7% for the second year. It should be
underlined that the Prague route has the highest absolute growth rate, i.e.
by 13 000 passengers more and even surpasses the Copenhagen route.
Accordingly, Prague shows a very convincing growth and ranks 3rd instead of
being 6th in 2001 on the list of the most popular destinations. The success
allowed “?SA” to pull ahead of such major airlines as “British Airways”,
“Lufthansa” and “Finnair”. A couple of years ago such a forecast would have
seemed unbelievable. “?SA” passengers figures have almost tripled compared
with 1999 and almost doubled compared with 2000.
Only three of the carriers providing scheduled flights to Riga during
the report year have carried fewer passengers than in 2001, i.e. “Aeroflot”
with 29.6%, “Finnair” with 16.3% and “LOT” with 2.7%. These airlines have
reduced flight frequency by 35.8%, 2.4% and 1.7% respectively. “Air Baltic”
has carried the majority of passengers to and from Riga, i.e. 43% of the
total number of passengers. “?SA” with 10% of passengers handled at “Riga”
airport ranks 2nd. As in 2001, “British Airways” with 9% ranks 3rd,
“Lufthansa” with 8% ranks 4th, “Finnair” with 8% is 5th, but “Latcharter”
with 7% is 6th.
|City |2000 |2001 |2002 |2002/2001(%) |
|Copenhagen |137 895 |152 109 |152 109 |3.0 |
|Helsinki |65 670 |71 712 |71 712 |-3.9 |
|Prague |34 741 |50 084 |50 084 |27.7 |
|Frankfurt |51 669 |54 715 |54 715 |6.4 |
|London |50 115 |53 274 |53 274 |6.9 |
|Stockholm |71 145 |65 094 |65 094 |-21.0 |
|Moscow |44 194 |41 810 |41 810 |-17.3 |
|Warsaw |10 349 |19 687 |19 687 |1.7 |
|Vienna |20 404 |20 567 |20 567 |-22.8 |
|Kiev |11 087 |11 231 |11 231 |8.2 |
|Tallinn |14 066 |11 086 |11 086 |-11.4 |
|Mugla |2 778 |3 186 |3 186 |2.3x |
|Berlin | |391 |391 |18.0x |
|Vilnius |9 821 |6 680 |6 680 |-3.1 |
|Barcelona |3 514 |2 497 |2 497 |1.6x |
|Heraklion |2 232 |1 115 |1 115 |-3.1 |
|Others |36 374 |57 409 |56 294 | |
|Total |574 356 |622 647 |622 647 |1.7 |
Table 4. Passenger movements per city
Air cargo
In 2002 the handled cargo volume has increased by more than 1 300 tons
when compared to the previous year. Riga International Airport has never
faced such an important increase in cargo volume before.
Of all the carries providing scheduled flights, “?SA” achieved the
highest growth of both cargo volume and passengers figures; while
“Aeroflot” had the highest rate of cargo volume. Contrary to passenger
figures, cargo volume dropped by 20.9% for “British Airways” and by 10.5%
for “Lufthansa” for the second year. Cargo volume also slightly decreased
also for “Finnair”. Nevertheless, “Finnair” is the major air cargo carrier
in Riga with 20% of the total cargo volume handled at the airport ((25% in
2001); followed by “Air Baltic” with 16% (21% in 2001); “SAS” with 15% (18%
in 2002); “?SA” with 7% (6% in 2001); “Aeroflot” with 6% (5% in 2001);
“Lufthansa” with 5% (7% in 2001); and “British Airways” with 2% in 2001).
|Airline |2000 |2001 |2002 |2002/2001(%) |
|Finnair |934 |1 323 |1 308 |-1.1 |
|Air Baltic |1 041 |1 099 |1 045 |-4.9 |
|SAS |845 |952 |971 |2.0 |
|?SA |249 |305 |429 |40.7 |
|Aeroflot |209 |277 |394 |42.2 |
|Lufthansa |453 |389 |348 |-10.5 |
|British Airways |304 |191 |151 |-20.9 |
|Concors | |137 |145 |5.6 |
|Air Polonia | |7 |117 |16.7x |
|LOT |112 |112 |115 |2.7 |
|Austrian Airlines |36 |36 |23 |-36.0 |
|White Eagle |190 |101 | | |
|Aviation | | | | |
|Others |210 |280 |1 534 | |
|Total |4 658 |5 209 |6 580 |26.3 |
Table 5. Cargo transportation (t)
Modernization and extension of the airport
During the report year attention was paid to the reinforcement and
technical upgrading of aviation security measures. “Riga” Airport
investment in aviation security has always been balanced. In view of the
11th September terrorist attacks the airport carried out unscheduled
activities to reinforce security, transferring a major part of the
investment initially planned for infrastructure development to security.
In the middle of 2002 cargo X-ray equipment was obtained and
installed. Latvia is a member of European Aviation Conference (ECAC), which
set 1 January 2003 the deadline for the introduction of the 100% screening
of checked baggage at international airports. If this requirement had not
been met, the aircraft departing from Riga would have faced long handling
delays at other European airports; while all the baggage arriving from
“Riga” airport would have been subject to time-consuming security controls.
At the end of 2002 “Riga” airport launched automatic baggage screening
equipment- which is a part of the common baggage security control system-
to provide maximum safety and convenience for passengers. The producer of
the equipment is the well-known company ‘Heimann”. The system facilitates
three-level baggage control. The automatic baggage screening equipment has
the capacity to process 1 200 baggage units per hour. Accordingly, two
systems facilitate security control of 2 400 baggage units per hour. The
installed equipment ensures security control fully compliant with the EU
requirements in the field of aviation security. In addition to baggage
control equipment, a computer room was arranged and 47 airport employees
were trained. Altogether, security equipment and the reconstruction of
baggage conveyors cost the airport 1.6 million EUR.
To reinforce security in the major areas and facilities at the
airport, the aircraft handling area and the technical area of the airfield
was fenced off and a checkpoint was arranged.
During the report year the 2nd and 3rd floor reconstruction of the
passenger terminal continued. Airline agencies moved to comfortable offices
and after the reconstruction the 3rd level of passenger terminal was
opened. After many years the restaurant run by the well-known Latvian
company “Lido” has been opened at the airport. The airport guests have an
opportunity both to enjoy the “Lido” menu and have a panoramic view over
the airfield, which was impossible for a long time due to the
reconstruction. The terminal has also become friendlier to passengers with
special needs, as the lift facilitates access to any level of the terminal.
In the winter season airfield maintenance requires extra effort and
costs. It is extremely important to ensure the airport operation
irrespective of the weather and provide all flights according to the flight
schedule. Therefore the airport has upgraded transport and emergency
systems by obtaining two multi-functional airfield maintenance vehicles
produced by the well-known company “Marcel Boschung AG”. The vehicles
remove snow from runway, taxiways and apron areas and provide anti-icing of
surfaces. In the summer season the vehicles are used to collect garbage and
dust.
Equipment for the treatment of land amelioration systems, loading and
digging was obtained. An airfield area of 10 ha was cleared of underbrush,
thus increasing ground capacity.
“Riga” airports is the second of the European airports having
introduced the passenger loyalty programme N.O.V.A. to the benefit of our
passengers, despite the fact that it does not bring the airport any extra
profit. However, the programme enables the airport to keep in touch with
passengers regularly and not only while they are travelling.
Financial performance
SJSC Riga International Airport ended the financial year 2002 with
202.4 thousand LVL profit. Aviation services with 6 242 100 LVL or 75%
account for the major revenue share of economic activity. Revenue share of
other services increased year on the year and amounted to 2 033 400 LVL in
2002.
Runway and airport infrastructure maintenance, salaries, and credit
interest payments comprise the major expenditure share of economic
activity.
In 2002 the airport continued to invest resources in the development
of infrastructure and purchasing of runway maintenance equipment. One of
the main investments was purchasing of a new automatic baggage screening to
provide maximum safety for passengers.
Selected bibliography
1. Wells Alexander “Airport planning and management”/London: McGraw-Hill,
2003
2. Starptautisk?s lidostas “R?ga” 2002. gada p?rskats/ R?ga: RIX, 2003
3. www.riga-airport.com
