Riga is a hub not only of local, but also of international importance. Its location at the junction of international railways and highways, as well as its access to an international airport and port, are essential preconditions for Riga’s economic competitiveness on a world scale.

Riga International Airport

Although Riga International Airport is not located within the administrative territory of the city, it plays an important role in the economy of the city, especially in the transport sector; therefore its development is discussed within the context of Riga’s economic development. Riga International Airport is the largest international aviation company in the Baltics and the main air traffic hub of this region providing regular passenger traffic, cargo and mail transportation  through airlines to the rest of Europe and the world. It serves both local and international airlines and has become one of the few European airports serving full-service and low-cost airlines.

In 2009, Riga International Airport provided services to more than 4 million passengers, i.e. 10.2% more than in 2008.

Currently 11 airlines operate at Riga International Airport, and it is possible to gain access to 82 destinations from Riga.  60,087 flights were operated in 2009 which is 2,855 or 5 % more than the previous year.

In 2008, Riga International Airport completed the reconstruction of its lighting system and runway, extending it by 650 metres and reaching a length of 3200 metres. The extended runway means any type of aircraft can be operated, which is a precondition for the commencement of intercontinental flights. Riga International Airport was the winner of the prestigious 2009 World Routes and OAG (Official Airline Guide) Airport Marketing Award. Riga has in this way been recognized as the best airport of the Scandinavian and Baltic region, ahead of Copenhagen and Stockholm Airports. With 66,427 available seats on international departing flights in the week from August 24^th  to the 30^th , for the first time Riga International Airport ranked as the 98th busiest world airport in the OAG top 100 rating.¹ The arrival of a Japan Airlines charter flight for the first time in the history of Riga International Airport has to be mentioned as one of the most important events of the year. The Japan Airlines Boeing 747 aircraft brought a group of tourists and representatives of  the leading Japanese tourism organizations and public institutions to Latvia.

www.riga-airport.com

Freeport of Riga

The Freeport of Riga, which covers both banks of the Daugava River’s lower reaches, occupies a considerable part of the Riga City territory. It covers an area of 63.48 km² , consisting of 19.62 km² (30.9 %) dry land territory, 12.71 km² (20 %) of inland water territory and 31.15 km² (49.1 %) of the outer reaches of the port. Taking into account that the outer reaches of the port’s aquatory are not situated in the City of Riga, the real area of the Freeport of Riga is 32.33 km² or 10.6 % of the total area of the city.

The Freeport of Riga plays an important role in providing the functions of multi-modal Western-Eastern and Northern-Southern transport corridors. Thanks to the well-developed network of motorways and railways, the Freeport of Riga is directly linked with the main cargo consumption centres and output/processing regions in the CIS and Russia.

In 2009, 3953 ships visited Riga with cargo turnover volume reaching 29.7 million tons. Compared to 1999, cargo volume increased 2.5 times, and it was the highest ratio/ showing in the 805 year long history of the port.

www.freeportofriga.lv

Railway transport

Railway is still the main means of cargo transport in Latvia. Riga is the largest railway junction in the Baltic States where trains provide cargo turnover between Western Europe and Russia, Belarus, Ukraine and Kazakhstan. In 2009, the railway company transported 53.68 million tons of cargo in total, which is 4.2% less than in 2008.

Electric trains transport passengers on 4 local railway routes. Diesel trains provide transport for passengers on 8 routes linking different regions of Latvia and the capital.

http://www.ldz.lv/

Riga International Coach Terminal

Since 1998, the JSC Riga International Coach Terminal has been developing very dynamically. According to Riga International Coach Terminal data, the coach terminal served on average, 458 trips per day, 408 being domestic trips, with 50 being international. The ticket value paid by the bus terminal to transport providers was 5.85 million Lats. 2.281 million passengers received services at the Riga International Coach Terminal in 2009.

http://www.autoosta.lv

City public transport

Company “Rīgas satiksme” provides services for passengers on 53 bus routes, 9 tram and 20 trolley bus routes. In 2009, the company owned 478 buses, 328 trolley buses and 252 trams, including 20 easy access trams.

41 routes in Riga are served by minibuses. The number of minibuses carrying passengers per day is 228.

www.rigassatiksme.lv

Bicycle routes

Currently there are five cycle routes in Riga: Centre–Mežaparks, Mežaparks–Vecmīlgrāvis, Vecrīga–Imanta, Augusta Deglava iela cycle route and the Šmerļa iela cycle route. Work to create new and to extend existing routes goes on constantly.

http://www.rdsd.lv/?ct=velosatiksme

This material has been prepared in cooperation with the City Development Department of the Riga City Council and www.investinriga.com