Riga Airport's Evolution:
A Northern Europe Hub

By 2027, Riga National Airport is set to become a central hub in Northern Europe with major upgrades, including a new terminal, improved infrastructure, and a city-airport concept that goes beyond just passenger travel

As of 2024, Riga Airport (RIX) holds the position of the leading aviation hub for the three Baltic states: Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.

Looking ahead to 2027, with a series of upgrades, its aim is to transform into a major hub not just in the Baltics, but also in Northern Europe.

With development of a state-of-the-art 30,000 square metres large terminal passenger traffic is expected to climb from 7.8 million to 12 million, and cargo traffic is projected to surge from 27,200 to 48,500 annually compared to 2019.

The airport redesign not only transforms the transportation system but also upgrades the power supply. Solar panels are set to be installed on the roof. By 2050 the airport will become climate neutral.

When working with international clients, we always point out that Riga Airport is conveniently close - only 15 minutes from Riga city center and 10 minutes from Jurmala beach. This is quite rare for busy European airports, which are usually much further from cities.

RIX Airport City: visualization (facebook.com/riga.airport)

RIX Airport City, a forthcoming multifunctional urban project neighbouring Riga Airport, plans to incorporate hotels, offices, and retail areas, alongside various services for passengers, cargo operations, and local residents in a 24-hectare space. Envisaged as an innovative city, it offers self-sufficiency and quick connections to Riga, other Latvian cities, Baltic capitals, and global destinations by car, rail, and air.

Sustainable and eco-friendly principles, adhering to the BREEAM and LEED certification standards, will be implemented in the development.

The new Riga terminal will be connected to the Rail Baltica railway station, which began construction next to the airport in 2022.

Rail Baltica is an ambitious ongoing project aiming to establish a high-speed link connecting all three Baltic capitals to high-speed rail networks in Finland, Poland, and Germany.

Rail Baltica will offer comfortable connections from Riga Airport to Tallinn and Vilnius in less than 2 hours. Frequent trips to Riga central station, just 8 minutes away, will make RIX an extension of the central business district

A short, five-minute walk to Riga Airport terminal and the Rail Baltica high-speed train station means that RIX Airport City is within a two-hour reach for 100 million people in Northern and Central Europe by air and 6 million people in the Baltics by train.

Several businesses have already acknowledged the potential of the future airport area, making investments. Near the airport, a variety of businesses are emerging, and recently, Sirin Development purchased 22 land plots from an auction organized by Riga City Council for 5.679 million euros. They have plans to develop a logistics complex on the acquired land.

RIX Airport City - business district 
around the airport

RIX Airport City: visualization (facebook.com/riga.airport)

railbaltica.org