Riga International Airport

Riga International Airport (Latvian: Starptautiskā lidosta “Rīga”; IATA: RIX, ICAO: EVRA) was built in 1973 as an alternative to Spilve Airport, which had become outdated. It is in Mārupe municipality, 5.4 NM (10.0 km; 6.2 mi) west of Riga, the capital of Latvia. It is the largest airport in the Baltic states and is directly connected to over 80 destinations in 30 countries. Renovation and modernization of the airport was completed in 2001, coinciding with the 800th anniversary of the founding of the city. The airport is a state-owned joint-stock company, with the owner of all shares being the government of Latvia. The holder of the state capital share is Latvia's Ministry of Transport. Riga International Airport is a hub for airBaltic, SmartLynx Airlines, RAF-Avia, Vip Avia and Inversija airlines.

In 2006, the new north terminal extension was opened. The airport has three terminals: A & C for non-Schengen, and B for Schengen departures. Arrivals 1, in terminal A, handles the Schengen arrivals, while Arrivals 2, in terminal C, handles the non-Schengen arrivals. Also, a maintenance, repair and overhaul facility was opened in the autumn of 2006, to be run as a joint venture between two local companies – Concors and SR-Technik.

The magazine GatewayRiga is available for visitors and passengers travelling through Riga airport. It has information on new airlines serving Riga, new destinations and routes, and other information about the airport itself and surrounding facilities. It is published three times per year by SIA Check-In Media.

Read more about Riga International Airport:  Other Facilities, Traffic Statistics, Ground Transport, Plans

Famous quotes containing the word airport:

    Airplanes are invariably scheduled to depart at such times as 7:54, 9:21 or 11:37. This extreme specificity has the effect on the novice of instilling in him the twin beliefs that he will be arriving at 10:08, 1:43 or 4:22, and that he should get to the airport on time. These beliefs are not only erroneous but actually unhealthy.
    Fran Lebowitz (b. 1950)