Riga International Airport

What Riga International Airport does

Riga International Airport (RIX; IATA: RIX, ICAO: EVRA) is a state-owned international airport operating 24/7 from a single terminal in Mārupe municipality, approximately 10 km southwest of Riga, Latvia. Founded in 1991 and legally structured as VAS "Starptautiskā lidosta "Rīga"" with the Latvian government as sole shareholder, the airport functions as the primary aviation hub for the Baltic States, linking the region to more than 90 direct destinations across Europe, Central Asia, and the Middle East via 20+ airlines. In 2025 it served roughly 6 million passengers through November while targeting 7.1 million by year-end, and point-to-point traffic was already running 6% above 2019 pre-pandemic levels.

The airport's product surface spans three layers. Aviation services include aircraft handling, navigation and landing fees, passenger and security charges, and air cargo (RIX Cargo); ground operations are delivered via RIX Ground Handling (airport-owned) and Havas Latvia under regulated market access. Passenger-facing ancillary products include the RIX Club loyalty program (249 EUR/year), RIX Fast Track priority security (10 EUR/use), Meet & Greet packages, the Primeclass business lounge, and the Kepler Club airport hotel, distributed through the RIX e-veikals e-commerce platform and the terminal network. Commercial revenue layers include duty-free, F&B, convenience retail, parking (with up to 25% e-shop discount), advertising (Media Port), car rental commissions, and terminal/land leasing; commercial space has been managed by TAV Latvia since 2011, and from January 1, 2027 it transitions to a new tenant stack of Avolta (Dufry), TheMillerGroup/WHSmith, and TAV Latvia Operations Services/Primeclass. The operational backbone is an Eurocontrol-certified A-CDM procedure enabling real-time decision exchange between the airport, airlines, ground handlers, and ATC, which underpins the cited 99% infrastructure punctuality.

The business model is hybrid: regulated aeronautical charges paid by airlines combine with non-aviation revenue from commercial tenants and direct-to-passenger fees. State ownership separates governance from competitive pressure; a 4.2 million EUR profit was reported in 2025 (as disclosed in May 2026), achieved in a context where operating results were similar to the prior year despite inflation. Forward growth levers include a 2026 route incentive program targeting transit traffic on segments over 3,000 km, the SAS re-entry after 16 years with three daily Copenhagen flights from March 2026, a Sanya Airport MOU to position Riga as an Asia-Europe gateway, and the RIX Airport City commercial real estate development on airport land. Technology investments are concentrated in safety/security (drone detection and countermeasure system, EU EES biometric integration) and passenger digitalization (RIX e-veikals, TapBox), with AI/ML capabilities not explicitly disclosed.

Name

Riga International Airport

Legal name

VAS "Starptautiskā lidosta "Rīga""

Website

https://riga-airport.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Riga International Airport (RIX) is Latvia's state-owned international airport serving over 7 million passengers annually. It is the Baltic region's primary aviation hub, operating 90+ routes across 20+ airlines alongside integrated cargo, commercial, ground handling, and passenger service operations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Airport Operations

NAICS

Airport Operations (48811), Other Airport Operations (488119)

SIC

Airports, Flying Fields & Airport Terminal Services (4581)

akta.pro primary industry

Aviation Infrastructure Agencies (Public Airports, Airfield Ops, Ground Access) (BPAIALAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Airport Inter-Terminal & Landside Circulator Shuttles (THAIAFAI), Airport Limited-Service Hotels (THAGABAF)

Keywords

• Airport operations
• Aviation services
• Ground handling
• Passenger terminal services
• Air cargo handling

Headquarters

HQ city

Riga

HQ country

Latvia

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Airport Charges and Navigation Fees: Charges levied on airlines for use of airport infrastructure and air navigation services, including landing fees, passenger fees, and security charges. Riga offers competitive pricing in the region.
2. Commercial Retail and Duty-Free: Revenue from duty-free retail (ATU Duty Free), food & beverage, convenience retail, and business lounge services. New commercial operators selected from January 2027: Avolta (duty free/F&B), TheMillerGroup/WHSmith (convenience retail), TAV Latvia/Primeclass (business lounge). Operators required to integrate Latvian producers and local brands.
3. Parking Services: Multiple parking facilities (P1 short-term, P2/P3/P4 long-term) with varying pricing. RIX e-veikals enables pre-booking with up to 25% savings.
4. Car Rental: Car rental operators (AVIS, Budget, EasyCars, Enterprise, Europcar, Greenmotion, Hertz, SIXT, TopRent) located in terminal arrivals area, providing commission-based revenue.
5. Advertising: Airport advertising through Media Port, reaching high-income international travelers with targeted advertising placements across the terminal.
6. VIP and Meet & Greet Services: Premium services including VIP Centre, Meet & Greet packages, Priority Services, business lounge access (Primeclass), and Kepler Club airport hotel.
7. Digital Charity Donations: Digital charity donation boxes (TapBox) in partnership with Ziedot.lv, reflecting cashless passenger payment trends.
8. Terminal and Land Leasing: Commercial space rental in the terminal (managed by TAV Latvia) and land/building rental across the airport territory.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Riga International Airport operates as a single-terminal international airport providing aviation infrastructure, flight operations, passenger and baggage handling, ground handling (RIX Ground Handling), and air cargo services. It also offers passenger-facing services including parking, fast-track security, business lounges (Primeclass), on-site hotel (Kepler Club), loyalty program (RIX Club), and commercial retail/dining operated by third-party tenants such as Avolta, TheMillerGroup/WHSmith, and TAV Latvia. The airport serves as the primary aviation hub for the Baltic region with 90+ direct destinations across 20+ airlines.

Product overview

Riga International Airport operates as a single-terminal international airport serving over 6 million passengers annually. The airport offers a unified passenger experience combining aviation services with retail, dining, and hospitality. Core services include flight operations, ground handling (RIX Ground Handling), and cargo handling (RIX Cargo). Passenger-facing offerings include loyalty program (RIX Club), priority services (RIX Fast Track, Meet & Greet), business lounge (Primeclass), on-site accommodation (Kepler Club), and digital shopping services (Order & Collect, Shop & Collect). The airport also provides commercial development through RIX Airport City and staff training via RIX Academy. Starting January 2027, duty-free retail and F&B will be managed by Avolta (Dufry), convenience retail by TheMillerGroup/WHSmith, and lounges by TAV Latvia/Primeclass.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• RIX Club: Airport loyalty program offering benefits including fast track access, parking discounts, and business lounge visits
• Primeclass Lounge
• Kepler Club
• RIX e-veikals
• RIX Airport City
• RIX Fast Track
• RIX Academy

Products and services

• RIX Club Annual airport loyalty program (249 EUR/year) providing frequent travelers with priority services, parking discounts, and complimentary lounge access. For individual travelers and business passengers.
• RIX Fast Track Priority security screening service allowing passengers to skip regular queues during peak hours. Priced at 10 EUR per single-use coupon. Free for children up to 12 years when traveling with a Fast Track purchaser.
• RIX e-veikals (e-Shop) Online self-service portal (book.riga-airport.com) for pre-booking airport services with up to 25% savings versus on-site prices. Available globally to all passengers planning travel through Riga.
• Meet & Greet Service Personalized airport assistance service including staff escort, priority security screening, border control support, and luggage handling. Offered as complete package or passenger-only service. Targeted at business travelers, groups, and passengers needing special assistance.
• Kepler Club Airport Hotel On-site capsule hotel within the airport terminal offering sleeping pods, rest areas, showers, and meeting rooms for passengers needing overnight accommodation or transit rest.
• Primeclass Lounge Business class lounge operated by TAV Latvia offering meals, beverages, private suites, conference facilities, children's room, showers, and luggage safes. Located in departure zone after security. Accessible through airline loyalty programs, online booking, and on-site purchase.
• RIX Airport City Commercial real estate development project on airport territory, offering land and building rental, terminal space leasing managed by TAV Latvia, and positioning the airport as a gateway to Northern Europe.
• Order & Collect Pre-order service for ATU Duty Free products online at least 24 hours before departure, with pickup at the airport. Targeted at departing passengers who want to save shopping time at the terminal.
• Shop & Collect Duty-free purchase and collection service allowing passengers to buy goods and collect them upon return, with option to send purchases to Omniva parcel lockers in Latvia, Lithuania, or Estonia.
• RIX Ground Handling Full ground handling services for aircraft including passenger handling, baggage handling, cargo handling, aircraft turnaround, and de-icing. Provided to airlines operating at Riga Airport under regulated market access rules.
• RIX Academy Training center offering aviation security, safety management, and airport safety courses for airport personnel and external partners. Operated as an independent paid training offering.
• RIX Cargo Air cargo handling services including freight forwarding, cargo operator coordination, express shipping partnerships (DHL, FedEx, UPS), and customs clearance services. Targeted at logistics companies and freight forwarders.
• Airport Tours Guided airport tours offered to school groups (63-73 EUR per excursion for up to 20 persons), adult groups (85-99 EUR per excursion), and individuals (3-3.50 EUR per person, second Saturday of each month).
• Baggage Storage Short and long-term baggage storage service priced at 7 EUR per 24h for standard bags (5 EUR from the second month), 5 EUR for clothing, and 10 EUR for large items such as bicycles, ski equipment, or AVIH crates.
• Baggage Wrapping Baggage wrapping service protecting luggage during transit, priced at 12 EUR for standard suitcase/bag and 20 EUR for non-standard baggage. Available daily from 04:00 to 00:00.
• Airport Parking (P1, P3, P4) Short-term (P1) and long-term (P3, P4) airport parking with online pre-booking available through RIX e-veikals offering up to 25% savings. P1 costs 29 EUR/24h, P3/P4 costs 10 EUR/24h.

Quantifiable outcome

• Point-to-point passenger segment exceeded 2019 pre-pandemic levels by 6%
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Avolta (formerly Dufry International AG)flagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 2 June 2026Swiss commercial operator selected through a competitive tender to manage duty-free retail and food & beverage services at Riga Airport starting January 1, 2027. Selected with a requirement to integrate Latvian producers and local brands into their concepts, supporting domestic businesses while enhancing passenger experience and growing non-aviation revenues.
• TheMillerGroup (WHSmith franchise)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 2 June 2026Malta-based convenience retail operator, operating under the WHSmith franchise brand, selected through competitive tender to manage convenience retail at Riga Airport starting January 1, 2027. Supports the airport's commercial strategy.
• TAV Latvia Operations Services (Primeclass brand)flagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 2 June 2026TAV Latvia Operations Services selected to operate business lounge services under the Primeclass brand starting January 1, 2027. Primeclass Lounge is the primary business lounge at Riga Airport, offering meals, bar, private suites, conference rooms, showers, and children's facilities.
• Sanya Airport (China)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 March 2026Sanya Airport signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Riga Airport to develop an aviation tourism cooperation network connecting China with the Eurasian hinterland. The initiative leverages Hainan Free Trade Port's aviation liberalization policies, positioning Riga as a key hub for Euro-Asian tourism flows between the Baltic and Central/Eastern European regions.
• Ziedot.lvminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 December 2025Riga Airport launched a digital charity donation stand in cooperation with Ziedot.lv, a Latvian charitable donation platform. The TapBox digital solution allows passengers to donate to four charitable causes using cashless payment methods, reflecting changing passenger habits towards digital payments.
• TAV Latvia (TAV Airports Holding)flagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTAV Latvia has managed all commercial spaces in Riga Airport's terminal since January 2011, based on international competitive tender results. TAV Latvia is a subsidiary of TAV Airports Holding (part of Groupe ADP), managing airports in Turkey, Georgia, Tunisia, North Macedonia, Saudi Arabia, Croatia, and Latvia.
• RIX Ground HandlingcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAirport-owned ground handling company providing comprehensive ground services including passenger handling, baggage, cargo, aircraft catering, and de-icing. Core airport operations partner.
• Havas LatviacoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerInternational ground handling company providing services at Riga Airport including baggage handling for multiple airlines (Aegean Airlines, flydubai, LOT, Lufthansa, Norwegian, Turkish Airlines, charter carriers). Operates lost and found baggage services for partner airlines.
• Media PortcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAirport's official advertising operator managing all advertising placements throughout the terminal, reaching high-income international travelers with targeted campaigns.
• EurocontrolcoreTechnology or IntegrationEuropean Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation. Riga Airport holds official Eurocontrol certification for its A-CDM (Airport-Collaborative Decision Making) procedure, enabling coordinated flight operations across Europe.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Aena: World's largest airport operator by passenger numbers, managing 46+ airports in Spain and internationally. Comparable as a state-origin airport operator with diversified aeronautical and commercial revenue streams relevant to Riga's RIX Airport City strategy.
• Helsinki Airport (Finavia): Finland's primary hub operated by Finavia, a much larger Nordic incumbent. Comparable through hub-and-spoke transit, A-CDM operations, and duty-free commercial model, but serves a substantially larger catchment with deeper long-haul connectivity via Finnair.
• Copenhagen Airport (CPH): Major Scandinavian hub airport. Directly relevant because SAS has re-launched Riga–Copenhagen service; CPH serves as a feeder for long-haul connectivity and competes indirectly for transfer traffic that could otherwise route through Riga.
• Avinor (Norwegian airport operator): State-owned Norwegian operator of 43 airports including Oslo Gardermoen. Comparable through state-owned airport operating model, regional network economics, and incentive-driven route development practices used in the Nordic/Baltic region.
• Swedavia (Swedish airport operator): State-owned Swedish operator of Sweden's main airports including Stockholm Arlanda. Comparable as a state-owned Nordic airport group with similar commercial revenue structure, A-CDM operations, and competing for the same Scandinavian catchment and SAS traffic.

Direct peers

• Tallinn Airport: State-owned international airport in Estonia operating as a direct Baltic regional peer. Competes for airline incentive programs, point-to-point catchment, and transit share across the same Baltic/Nordic corridor as Riga.
• Vilnius Airport: Lithuania's main international airport and a direct Baltic regional peer. Operates a similar business model (aeronautical + non-aeronautical revenues, point-to-point plus transit focus) and competes head-to-head for routes, airlines, and catchment.

Others

• TAV Airports Holding: Airport operator and Riga's commercial partner (TAV Latvia/Primeclass) that also manages airports across Turkey, Georgia, Saudi Arabia, and elsewhere. Useful comparable for non-aeronautical revenue management, lounge operations, and airport commercial strategy.
• Fraport (Frankfurt Airport operator): Global airport operator and one of Europe's largest listed airport groups. Useful comparable for non-aeronautical revenue mix, retail concession management, and A-CDM-enabled hub operations even though Frankfurt operates at materially larger scale.

Regional players

• Kaunas Airport: Secondary Lithuanian airport primarily serving low-cost carriers. Competes with Riga for point-to-point and price-sensitive leisure traffic in the Baltic region, especially on routes also served from Riga by Ryanair and other LCCs.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/riga_airport
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC9n0ejpVj71GlETgBnI6Bjg
• Facebookfacebook.com/riga.airport
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rigaairport
• Instagraminstagram.com/riga_airport

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Riga International Airport