Другое : Riga international airport
Riga international airport
Riga international
airport
Riga 2004
During the past century Latvian
aviation, like the country itself, experienced a number of fateful turning
points. The former province of Russia, which won independence after the 1st
World War, established small air force and civil aviation, but lost everything
due to the Soviet occupation in the summer of 1940. Independence of the country
was regained in August 1991.
Riga airport was built in the
present location in October 1974. However, it remained unknown for the world
operating as the local airport within the former USSR. Only in 1991 Riga
destination appeared in the timetables of well-known Western airlines - first
SAS, then Lufthansa.
The capital of Latvia developed
historically into the regional centre of the Baltic’s. It has been the
intersection of major land and sea routes since long ago. Nowadays the number
of air routes keeps increasing. Riga is the biggest city of the Baltic States.
Riga airport has the largest number of air passengers handled during the past
10 years.
The number of passengers has doubled
since 1993. Copenhagen, Stockholm, London, Helsinki, Frankfurt, Moscow, Prague
and Vienna routes have the largest number of passengers. Furthermore, direct
flights link the capital of Latvia with Honk-Kong, Kiev, Tallinn, Tel Aviv,
Vilnius and Warsaw.
During this period Riga airport has
implemented several important modernization and expansion projects. The lounge
for business class passengers and VIP centre was opened, and Flight Information
Display System (FIDS) and Common Use Terminal Equipment System (CUTE) has been
installed.
However, chief of company consider
that the airport development and modernization should be at least a step ahead
of passenger growth. He forecast that by stable economic development of Latvia
the airport passenger numbers will grow considerably in the new millennium. The
former terminal was not spacious enough and could not provide full comfort for
passengers. Therefore major reconstruction started on the eve of the new
millennium by pulling down the old one-level arrival area and by constructing a
new two-level building 5 times exceeding the size of the former one. The former
departure area was reconstructed next and a new pier with 5 passenger bridges
was built instead. Altogether terminal was extended by more than 10 thousand
square meters and 30 million USD were invested in the implementation of the
project.
The reconstruction permitted to
expand considerably the duty-free trade centre. Our duty-free shops offering
souvenirs, perfumery, cosmetics, jeweller, watches, accessories, sweets, wines
and spirits, tobacco goods, sportswear and toys are very popular. You can
purchase both Latvian products as well as goods offered by famous international
producers. Every departing passenger purchases goods for average value of 18
USD.
New bars and cafes have been opened.
Spacious shopping halls, bars and
cafes fit well in the new airport interior that includes the elements of glass,
metal and natural materials, like wood, stone and others forming Riga airport
image of today.
The main idea of the new design was
to construct spacious, light and, which is most important, transparent rooms
for passengers to make one feel more and safe.
Geometry of the new building facades
differs from the one associated with Riga airport till now. The glazed rhombic
prisms laid in various planes encircle the new constructions. The facades
resemble crystalline ice compositions arousing northern feelings. Harmony of
grey and blue colours is dominant in the interior.
A modern Building Management System
(BMS), air conditioning system, electric facilities and security equipment have
been installed in the new building. Handling of persons with special needs has
improved. Riga airport has succeeded in solving the most complicated problem of
any airport design an optimum balance was reached among architectural,
functional and commercial aspects.
Everything we have achieved has been
done with the purpose of taking care of our passengers' convenience, so that a
person arriving in Riga has a friendly environment and receives services of the
highest quality. The better impressions of the airport, the more comfortable
passengers feel while travelling.
Services will be further improved by
considering expectations of our passengers and guests, who have filled out
questionnaires available at special stands in the terminal. We look forward to
receive comments on the recently introduced airport tour programmed and art
exhibitions at the airport. Passenger loyalty programmed providing discounts,
presents and special service for regular passengers has been launched.
Providing passenger service quality
and variety Riga International Airport pays special attention to ground
handling level. The airport provides a full range of the required services.
Providing passenger service quality
and variety Riga international airport pays special attention to ground
handling level. The airport provides a full range of the required services.
In 1994 Strabag International GmbH
and Daimler Benz Aerospace AG carried out the first airport reconstruction
works involving runway rehabilitation and the replacement of lighting system.
Today along with terminal reconstruction taxiways and the central apron of 13
hectares have been reconstructed.
The airport transport and emergency
systems have also been gradually improved. Transport and equipment from the
Soviet era has been replaced with new Neoplan, Vanhool and Mercedes buses,
Scmitz airport sweeper, Volkswagen service cars and Sides fire-fighting
vehicles.
The new passenger boarding bridges
are equipped with modern aircraft technical service systems. The latest
technologies ensure both heating and conditioning of the aircraft flight deck.
Riga airport provides a complete range of ground handling services. The carrier
Air Baltic also performs separate operations.
An acknowledgement of compliance
with high-quality requirements is ISO 9001 Quality Certificate issued by the
British Standards Institute auditors.
Development of air
traffic.
2002 was one of the hardest years
ever for the aviation industry. 11 September 2001 shocked the USA and caused a
crisis in the world’s aviation business after continuous and dynamic development
of more than half a century. In all the developed countries of the world
passenger figures collapsed and the downward trend also continued in to 2002.
Altogether, passenger figures dropped by around 5 million in Europe and by 35
million in North America compared with 2001.
“Riga” airport was also affected by
the consequences of the crisis. First, we expensed a substantial fall in
traffic to the USA. In August 2001 around 3.5 thousand passengers departed the
USA from Riga, but in the months following the terrorist attacks of 11
September passenger figures decreased by more than 60% causing an important
loss for the airport. Despite the downward trend, the report years were
profitable. The important things are that we have not lost passengers, as have
other airports worldwide.
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