Riga Airport experienced a substantial increase in traffic during February, recording double-digit expansion.
Riga Airport Sees Moderate Growth in 2025
Riga Airport, the primary hub in Latvia, is experiencing a steady increase in passenger traffic, flight occupancy, and cargo handling in the first half of 2025.
In the January-June period, the number of passengers exceeded 3.3 million, marking a 5% year-on-year increase. The total number of flights handled rose by 3% to approximately 30,378, and air cargo volume grew by 9% to 9,194 tonnes. June alone saw 1,552 tonnes of cargo handled, highlighting the airport's growing importance as a cargo hub.
AirBaltic, the Latvian national airline, continues to be a major driver of growth at Riga Airport. The airline contributes significantly to the airport's expanding route network and passenger numbers, although specific figures were not detailed in the available data. Ryanair, on the other hand, while operating at Riga, does not seem to have the same level of impact as airBaltic, according to the latest reports.
Lufthansa Cargo's involvement aligns with the increased cargo handling volume at Riga Airport. The airport has seen a 9% rise in air cargo in the first half of 2025, although direct references to Lufthansa Cargo's specific activities or market share at Riga were not supplied in the search results.
Riga Airport's role as a significant transfer airport in the region is further underscored by the fact that around 23% of passengers in June used Riga as a connecting hub.
Looking back at February, airBaltic carried the majority of passengers at Riga Airport, with Ryanair coming in second, carrying 35% of the passengers. The number of flights handled at Riga Airport increased by 8% in February, and the average flight occupancy remained high, at around 75%.
The United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Sweden are the most popular destination countries for flights from Riga Airport. No other airlines were mentioned as carrying a significant number of passengers in February, aside from airBaltic and Ryanair.
Lufthansa Cargo is responsible for the increase in aviation cargo at Riga Airport, with the airport handling over 3000 tonnes of aviation cargo since the start of 2024. The volume of aviation cargo handled at Riga Airport has increased compared to the beginning of the year, thanks to regular cargo connections provided by Lufthansa Cargo. No other details about the types or destinations of the cargo transported by Lufthansa Cargo were provided.
Approximately 20% of all passengers at Riga Airport use it as a transit/transfer hub, underscoring its importance as a regional hub. However, no specific information about the source of the release was provided for the cargo-related facts.
In summary, Riga Airport's passenger traffic, flight operations, and cargo throughput are all growing moderately in 2025, with airBaltic as a key contributor to passenger growth and an upward trend in cargo consistent with increased activity from cargo operators including Lufthansa Cargo. Ryanair's current role is less clear from available data.
- The expansion in air cargo volume at Riga Airport in 2025 can be attributed to increased activity from cargo operators like Lufthansa Cargo, as the airport has handled over 3000 tonnes of aviation cargo since the start of the year.
- Beyond airBaltic and Ryanair, the Latvian national airline and the Irish low-cost carrier, respectively, other significant players in the industry contributing to the moderate growth at Riga Airport in finance and transportation sectors, such as aviation, have not been explicitly detailed in the available data.
