Yearbook_2014: - Riga International Airport

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Starptautiskā lidosta "Rīga"
RIX Yearbook 2014
CONTENTS
FACTS AND FIGURES
4 ACHIEVEMENTS22
Airlines4
Silver Category in Sustainability Index 2014
23
Destinations4
Riga Airport – Europe’s Most Competitive Airport
23
Statistics: Passengers, Aircraft and Traffic
Riga Airport – Top Employer
23
5
Punctuality5
THE TEAM
Summer Helpers at Riga Airport
Better Work Environment
AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT CARING FOR PEOPLE AND
6 ENVIRONMENT24
7
9
10
Aviation Fuel Hydrants
11
Wizz Air Opens Base in Riga and Doubles Its Capacity
11
Ryanair Celebrates the 10th Anniversary of Operations
13
Riga Airport Welcomes the Ten Millionth Transit/Transfer Passenger
13
INVESTMENT PROJECTS FOR
AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT
Construction of the New Pier Commenced
25
Thirty-Seven “Shadows” Visit the Airport
27
Creative Workshops and Tours for the Children of Airport Staff
28
Airport Seniors Meet Again
29
A New Donation Stand in the Airport Terminal
29
IN THE FOCUS OF EVENTS
The 40th Anniversary of Riga Airport
30
31
Special Tour for the Readers of the Magazine IEVAS STĀSTI31
14
15
Riga International Airport’s Substantial Investments in Infrastructure
Development17
AIRPORT SERVICES AND
PASSENGER CONVENIENCES
Environmental Noise Laboratory Starts Operations
18
ATU Duty Free Now in the VIP Centre Too
19
Access to Fast Track Provided Jointly with airBaltic
19
New Shops and Stands
21
Enquiry Telephone Number Changed
21
World’s Biggest Aircraft An-225 Lands at Riga Airport
32
Lottery “Don’t miss your lucky chance – come to the airport earlier!” 33
Riga Airport Team Takes Part in Nordea Riga Marathon
34
Seeing off and Welcoming Home the Olympic Athletes
35
Bobsleigh and Skeleton Athletes Demonstrate Their Olympic Equipment at
Riga Airport 35
International Airport "Rīga"
RIX Yearbook 2014
FACTS AND FIGURES
Top Most Popular Destinations in 2014
Shares of Passenger Traffic in the Baltic Market
1. London
443,394
2. Moscow
436,335
3. Frankfurt
297,512
4. Helsinki
5. Oslo
185,088
7. Vilnius
19
7
Vilnius
Tallinn
Kaunas
%
%
%
168,966
Riga
148,023
139,305
Airlines
Destinations
To provide our passengers with the opportunity
to choose the most convenient and advantageous route to their destination, Riga International Airport in 2014 cooperated with 17 airlines, including such new carriers as Brussels
Airlines and Ellinair.
In 2014, from Riga International Airport 83 destinations could be reached in the summer season
and 66 destinations – in the winter season. Over
the year, fifteen new destinations had been opened.
As the winter flight schedule set in, Brussels
Airlines, the member of Lufthansa Group and
Star Alliance, commenced operations with six
flights to Brussels per week. Flights are performed jointly with the national carrier airBaltic.
4
28
176,117
8. Stockholm
10. Paris
%
249,770
6. Tallinn
9. Copenhagen
46
253,755
The Latvian national carrier airBaltic in 2014
commenced flights from Riga International Airport to Aberdeen, Gothenburg, Burgas, Bucharest, Moscow (Vnukovo Airport), and Poprad.
Wizz Air, the largest budget airline in Central
and Eastern Europe, opened four new destinations from Riga – to Paris, Dortmund, Doncaster
and Barcelona. The Irish low-cost airline Ryanair
commenced flights from Riga International Air-
Punctuality
Statistics: Passengers,
Aircraft and Traffic
port to Köln (Germany), and the carrier Brussels
Airlines – to Brussels.
Latvia’s biggest tour operator Tez Tour jointly
with airBaltic on 1 June opened flights to Palma
de Mallorca in Spain an on 25 June – to Varna
(Bulgaria). The tour operator Mouzenidis Travel
on 4 June started to carry tourists from Riga to
Corfu – the greenest and most popular Greek island. Flights are operated by the tour operator’s
airline Ellinair. Similarly to 2013, last year, too,
the widest choice of destinations from Riga was
provided by the Latvian national carrier airBaltic.
Riga International Airport in 2014 welcomed
4.8 million passengers or 0.4% more, year
on year. Transfer/transit passengers accounted for 29% of the total passenger traffic and
the most popular destinations via Riga International Airport were Tallinn, Vilnius, Helsinki,
Moscow and Stockholm.
Norwegian Air Shuttle (+15%).
The national carrier airBaltic in 2014 carried
almost 56% of the passengers handled at the
airport; the airline Ryanair carried 16% of passengers. In comparison with 2013, the number of passengers was significantly increased
by Wizz Air (+51%), Lufthansa (+18%) and
Riga International Airport with almost 65 thousand aircraft and 33 thousand tons of cargo
handled in 2014 is the biggest Baltic air traffic
hub – 46% of the region’s passenger traffic
go through Riga.
The most popular destinations of travellers in
2014 were London, Moscow, Frankfurt, Helsinki and Oslo. The top destinations for charter flights were Antalya, Heraklion, Hurghada
and Burgas.
The Ground Handling Department of Riga International Airport in 2014 attained a high
punctuality ratio in terms of passenger and
aircraft handling. By providing high quality
professional services, the Ground Handling Department had attained 99.73% punctuality – an
excellent result in the aviation industry.
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THE TEAM
At the end of the year
2014, the workforce at
Riga International Airport
was 1119 strong.
 Passenger services 60%
 Maintenance of infrastructure 31%
 Administration 9%
31
%
Distribution of workforce
by activity:
1119 employees
%
60 %
Summer Helpers at Riga Airport
9
Distribution of workforce
by age group:
24
%
35
1%
17 ,
,4 %




18-30
31-40
41-50
> 51
35,4 %
23,5 %
17,1 %
24 %
As summer is the busiest period at the
airport and there is a lot of work for
everybody, youngsters came to help several departments and throughout the summer season assisted in daily work, learned
more about the airport infrastructure and
the staff.
In 2014, the airport resumed cooperation
with the State Employment Agency (SEA)
and 56 pupils from comprehensive, specialised and vocational educational institutions with the support of the SEA were invi-
ted to work and gain their first professional
experience.
The biggest group of helpers – 16
youngsters - in summer worked at the Aviation Security Unit explaining passengers the
operation of the e-gates and assisting them,
managing passenger queues at the e-gates.
The pupils also were engaged by the Human Resources Development Unit, car parks
and the Baggage Storage Unit, Household
Services as well as the VIP Centre and the
Business Aviation Services Unit.
23,5 %
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Better Work Environment
Upon the work environment risk assessment
conducted in 2014, several improvements and
adjustments were made to the airport workplaces to make them tidier, more comfortable, ergonomic, and, what is most important, safer for
the staff, thus minimizing the risks of accidents
and occupational diseases.
The biggest share of improvements went to the
Mechanization Unit of the Infrastructure Maintenance and Development Department. Various
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trollies were supplied to transport heavy items
(barrels, spare parts, crates) in order to minimize the need to physically carry heavy objects,
as well as work tables on wheels for bringing
the necessary parts and tools directly to the
vehicle under repair, special wall panels for sorting and organizing instruments, new portable
aluminium ladders and special steps for quicker
and safer access to taller vehicles, workshop
chairs and aluminium shelf systems for the repair workshops.
A major improvement was made in the repair
area of the airport buses where the service pit
was made deeper and wider for ergonomically
correct work of the personnel.
In some departments and offices, where necessary, air humidifiers were placed, foot stools
and ergonomic computer mouse pads and
chairs with back support were provided.
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lidosta "Rīga"
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2014
AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT
Wizz Air Opens Base in
Riga and Doubles Its
Capacity
In June 2014, the budget airline of Central and
Eastern Europe Wizz Air opened its 17th base
at Riga Airport by deploying one Airbus A320
aircraft and opening four new routes from Riga:
to Barcelona, Doncaster/Sheffield, Dortmund
and Paris (Beauvais). In August the airline announced of its intention to deploy another Airbus A320 aircraft in the base as of 22 April
2015 and of adding three new routes: twice
a week to Hamburg, Lübeck, Stavanger and
Liverpool.
The airline believes its expansion in Riga can
stimulate the local job market in aviation and
the tourism sector with more visitors now being
able to travel to Latvia on its low fare services.
In total, including the new destinations, Wizz
Air offers 11 routes to six countries from Riga.
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Aviation Fuel Hydrants
Since August 2014, aircraft fuel hydrants built
in cooperation with SIA RIXJET RIGA are being
operated at Riga International Airport. To date
Riga Airport is the only airport in the Baltics using this system of aircraft fuelling.
Arrival of the third fuel supply operator SIA
RIXJET RIGA in 2014 made the aviation fuel
market competitive and improved the accessibility of fuel services for airlines.
The fuel hydrants have been built with the aim
to decrease the fuelling time of the aircraft in
the process of its handling, which is particularly important for freight aircraft. Moreover,
the safety in the aerodrome is improved and
less CO2 emissions are released into the air,
keeping the environment cleaner. Overall, 15
hydrants have been built in the airport territory.
The fuel depot of SIA RIXJET RIGA now has
four tanks with the capacity of 1500 cubic metres each. In the future, two more tanks may
be added. Construction of this fuel depot has
greatly increased the total fuel tank capacity
of all the fuel operators working at Riga Airport
and in case of disruption of fuel deliveries, the
airport can maintain the necessary fuel supplies
to the airlines for a longer period.
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Ryanair Celebrates the
10th Anniversary of
Operations
Riga Airport Welcomes
the Ten Millionth Transit/
Transfer Passenger
On 31 October 2014, the airline Ryanair celebrated its 10th anniversary of operations in the
Baltic countries. The event was attended by HE
Mr Aidan Kirwan, Ambassador of Ireland to Latvia, and Aldis Mūrnieks, Chairman of the Board
of Riga International Airport.
On 23 July 2014, Riga International Airport
welcomed the ten millionth transit/transfer passenger since the restoration of Latvia’s independence – Mr Christian Suhl - arriving on the
airBaltic flight from Brussels and proceeding to
Tallinn. Riga International Airport presented the
lucky passenger with four Business Lounge gift
It should be noted that Riga Airport was the
starting point of Ryanair’s operations in the Baltic countries.
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cards and the airport souvenirs. Mr Giray Colpan, Head of TAV Latvia, jointly with Mr Tamer
Cigeroglu, Operations Manager of AS Riga Airport Commercial Development (ATU Duty Free),
congratulated Mr Suhl and gave him a basket
with special delicacies from tax-free shops.
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INVESTMENT PROJECTS FOR
AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT
Construction of the New
Pier Commenced
By laying into the foundation of the building a
time capsule with a letter to future generations,
Riga International Airport has commenced
construction of a new pier.
Stage 1 of the development of Riga Airport terminal envisages expansion of the non-Schengen area and additionally four new boarding
gates, which will improve the quality of services. Upon completion, the new pier will be able
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to service larger aircraft, increasing the airport
capacity.
Expansion of the terminal is crucial for the improvement of Riga Airport’s competitiveness in
Europe. It is an essential precondition for attraction of new airlines and development of the
operations of the airlines already working at the
airport in order to strengthen our leading position in the Baltic countries and Northern Europe.
The capacity of the existing terminal allows providing quality services for 3.5 million passengers per year, whereas the airport already now
welcomes 4.7 passengers annually. In view of
further growth of passenger traffic, the airport
must be enlarged in order to provide adequate
facilities for airlines and appropriate standard of
services for passengers.
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Riga International Airport’s Substantial Investments in
Infrastructure Development
Within the framework of the EU Cohesion
Fund’s co-financed project „Development of
Riga International Airport Infrastructure” the
airport company over the last two years has
accomplished significant infrastructure reconstruction works. They have resulted in better
flight safety, improved environmental situation
and increased aerodrome capacity.
“We have made substantial investments in the
reconstruction of the aerodrome infrastructure
that may be unnoticeable to passengers in their
daily routine yet vital for the safety of flights,”
said Andris Liepiņš, Chairman of the Board of
Riga International Airport.
The years 2013 and 2014 saw implementa-
tion of major project works: renovation of the
runway surface, reinforcement of the runway
strip, construction of additional taxiways E
and D, installation of CAT II lighting system,
reconstruction of Aprons 2 and 3, building of
two aircraft anti-icing pads, the storm water
collection and disposal and aerodrome drainage system, as well as a hangar for washing
of vehicles, a hangar for collection of waste,
simple renovation of taxiways C and G and
construction of a fire depot.
The Cohesion Fund’s co-financed project is the
most ambitious project since opening of Riga
Airport in 1974. It is important to mention that
all the construction works were carried out on
the operating aerodrome and continued round
the clock.
The above-mentioned construction works in the
objects were commenced on 2 May 2013. The implementation of the project will be completed by 31 December 2015. It will include
full reconstruction of pavement on Apron 1,
purchase of a specialised aviation rescue and
firefighting vehicle and security equipment.
The attributable project costs amount to EUR
94 266 717.13, of which Cohesion Fund’s finance accounts for EUR 58 500 000.00, state
budget funding - for EUR11 747 011.97 and
the funds of Riga International Airport - for EUR
24 019 705.
IGULDĪJUMS TAVĀ NĀKOTNĒ
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AIRPORT SERVICES AND
PASSENGER CONVENIENCES
ATU Duty Free Now in the
VIP Centre Too
Access to Fast Track Provided
Jointly with airBaltic
On 7 March 2014, in the non-Schengen hall
of the VIP Centre, a new ATU Duty-Free shop
was opened. The passengers will have the opportunity to buy choice alcoholic beverages,
perfumery, beauty products and fashionable
accessories as well as tobacco products and
exclusive mobile phones.
The Fast Track security check has been
available at Riga Airport since July 2013.
The passengers who have bought a coupon
can undergo security check by using the fast
track instead of queuing together with other
passengers. The coupon is valid only for a
specific date and for the flight indicated in the
coupon, and it can be used only once. At the
same time, the holders of the RIX Club privilege
The operator of “Duty Free” shops has been
working at Riga Airport since February 2011.
To date, there are six ATU Duty Free shops at
the airport offering a vast range of cosmetics,
perfumery, alcoholic beverages, sweets, tobacco products, fashion goods and accessories
to the passengers.
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cards can use the Fast Track security check
any time. In February 2014 a new service,
“Access to Fast Track” was offered jointly with
the airline airBaltic. The coupon for this service
can be purchased for EUR 10 any time prior to
departure at Riga Airport Information Desk or
on the website www.airbaltic.lv when booking a
flight or prior to online check-in.
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Enquiry Telephone
Number Changed
New Shops and Stands
On 1 March 2014, a sales outlet of the company
Emīla Gustava Šokolāde was opened at Riga
International Airport. It is located at Departures
Sector B of the airport terminal, in the Customs
Control area on Level 2. The sales outlet offers
premium class chocolates made of top quality
carefully selected raw products.
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On 7 May 2015, two new shops were opened
in the check-in Sector F, the Customs Control
area on Level 2: FURLA and TUMI. FURLA sells
bags and accessories of Italian design while
TUMI offers a range of business bags and
accessories.
In summer 2014, the enquiry telephone number was changed to 1817. By calling this number, the clients can obtain information on flight
schedules, security issues and availability of
various airport services. It is a paid service.
The agents of the enquiry service answer the
calls seven days a week, 24 hours a day, in
three languages: Latvian, English and Russian.
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ACHIEVEMENTS
Silver Category in
Sustainability Index 2014
Riga Airport – Europe’s
Most Competitive Airport
Riga Airport – Top
Employer
For the third consecutive year, Riga International Airport is receiving the Silver Category in
the initiative of Sustainability Index.
The Air Transport Research Society (ATRS) has
made a comparison of the financial data of 200
airports and has selected Riga Airport as the
most competitive airport in Europe in terms of
costs and tariff structure per passenger.
In the survey conducted by the recruitment
company CV-Online Latvia, Riga International
Airport received the second best assessment in
the transport and logistics sector, which makes
it one of the most desirable and popular employers in Latvia.
The assessment is made in five main areas of
activity: strategy, society, environment, market
relations and work environment. The airport in
2014 was repeatedly awarded the Silver Category gaining the highest score in market relations.
In each of the five areas the following aspects
are being assessed: management (policies,
processes, principles, goals etc.) - giving a
maximum score of 30 points, integration (decision-making, persons in charge, training, involvement of stakeholders) – 25%, actual performance and influence - 40%. Other awards
(certificates of merit etc.) are also taken into
account and add 5% to the total score.
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ATRS conducts this survey every year since
2002, and Riga Airport has received this title
for the first time.
In the survey, 69 European, 78 North-American and 53 Asian airports were compared.
In order to find the world’s most efficient and
competitive airports, the comparative analysis
of their financial and pricing policies has been
performed.
Riga Airport is greatly honoured to learn that the
jobseekers of Latvia are of such a high opinion
of the airport, its stability and recognisability,
which in turn is the sign of the importance and
popularity of the aviation industry.
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CARING FOR PEOPLE AND ENVIRONMENT
Environmental Noise Laboratory Starts Operations
Since September 2014, Riga Airport has been
providing a new service – measuring of the
environmental noise. Riga Airport is the only
airport in the Baltic countries offering such a
service.
The noise measurement service is rendered
by the Environmental Noise Laboratory of
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the Quality Assurance Department, which is
accredited according to the laws and regulations.
The primary goal of the Environmental Noise
Laboratory is to ensure effective monitoring of
the aircraft noise. Additionally, the laboratory
offers services and consultations in environ-
mental noise management. The Latvian National Accreditation Bureau on 6 June 2014
accredited the Environmental Noise Laboratory of the Quality Assurance Department in
accordance with LVL EN ISO/EC17025 2005
standard for environmental noise measuring.
The accreditation is valid until 4 June 2018.
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Thirty-Seven “Shadows”
Visit the Airport
On 12 February 2014, at Riga Airport the annual “Shadows’ Day” took place and 37 pupils
learned more about 18 professions in particular and the airport operations in general.
Kaspars Večens, (Riga German Gymnasium,
Form 10 E) said: „I have got a very positive
impression about Riga International Airport
because in the course of this day I learned a
lot of new things, for example, about marshalling, meeting and dispatching aircraft on the
26
ramp. It was especially exciting to examine the
huge cargo aircraft Boeing 747 and visit its
cockpit.”
It was enjoyable to see how happy the
youngsters were about the day spent at the
airport. They definitely gained some food for
thought regarding their future career plans,
the choice of study programmes, and maybe
the possibility of seeing their future in aviation.
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Creative Workshops and
Tours for the Children of
Airport Staff
For the third consecutive year already, on 6
July, Children’s Day, an event was arranged for
the kids of the airport employees. 127 participants attended it. This event gave an excellent
opportunity to have a wonderful time at the
Training Centre, see the airport terminal, apron and an aircraft. This year the children were
met and entertained by the popular characters
Karlsson and Fröken Bock who shared their
experience of flying, played games with the
children and took part in creative workshops.
In the “Little Academy of Arts”, jointly with the
artists of “Mārupe Creative Studio”, everybody
could demonstrate their artistic skills or learn
some basics of painting under the guidance of
professionals.
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At the computer class of the Training Centre
theairport’s little guests could try their hand
in the job of x-ray operator looking for illicit
objects in the baggage. Those who had been
overwhelmed by the vast choice of activities
could chill out in the small cinema watching
funny cartoons.
Children were even more impressed by the demonstrations of the firefighters’ team and the
staff of the Mechanization Unit showing the
work of the apron machines.
Dzintra Guļāne, bird and wildlife control specialist, told the children about her daily work,
interesting facts about birds and showed her
work tools.
The bigger participants of the Children’s Day
experienced unforgettable moments in the terminal where everybody could step into a passenger’s shoes. On “the Passenger’s Track”,
the airport visitors went to the special Children’s
Day check-in, passed security control and visited the Business Lounge. The Aircraft Services
Unit, too, had arranged an interesting and informative program, demonstrating the work of a
container loader, baggage towing tractor and
ambulift, and inviting the children for a little ride
on the machines.
Airport Seniors Meet
Again
A New Donation Stand in
the Airport Terminal
Traditionally, before the Christmas Season, Riga
International Airport is giving a reception for its
seniors – the retired employees. In 2014, it took
place on 19 December, as usual, on the premises of the Training Centre. Several tens of the
seniors attended the reception. They received
EUR 50 as a gift from Riga Airport
Corporate social responsibility is now being recognized worldwide, which means that the businesses in their daily operations try to do more
than the minimum required by the law and voluntarily address the social and environmental
issues. Riga International Airport, being a modern and dynamic company, thinks not only of
its own but also of the public needs.
In its efforts to implement socially responsible
entrepreneurship, Riga Airport has continuously
supported charity organisations of Latvia, placing donations stands on the premises of the
terminal. Initially, there were separate stands
distributed in various places of the terminal.
Now a new concept has been adopted and a
single donation stand has been established
with six donation boxes of various organisations
raising funds for charity purposes. Currently
everybody can donate to the Latvian Children’s
Fund, the Latvian Society for Support to the
National Library, the Latvian Red Cross, the
Latvian Society of Foster Families, the Society
“Charity Mission – Food for Life” and the Latvian Nature Foundation.
In addition to this donation stand, there are donation boxes of special design – for Jugla Animal Shelter in the form of a dog named Robin.
The Latvian Ornithology Society has created its
box in the form of a tree – the traditional habitat
of birds.
Since 2014, everybody can receive the information about the amounts collected in the
airport’s donation boxes and their use, by visiting the section “Public Support”, under “About
Company” on the airport’s website:
www.riga-airport.com.
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IN THE FOCUS
OF EVENTS
The 40th Anniversary of
Riga Airport
In October 2014, Riga International Airport
celebrated its 40th anniversary. Various events
were held in honour of this jubilee, of which the
most impressive was a special light projection
on the terminal façade greeting the personnel,
passengers and airport visitors on the anniversary.
The most popular aircraft of the four decades
that had arrived and departed from Riga Airport
were shown in the projection. The airport’s spe-
30
cial greeting was on view for two weeks at the
dark hours of the day. With this light projection,
the airport took part in the popular annual festive event “Staro Rīga” (“Riga Shines”).
In honour of the airport’s jubilee, in Departures
Sector C on the landside from October until the
end of 2014 the historical photographs of Riga
Airport were displayed. Riga Airport was put
into operation on 10 October of 1974.
31
International Airport "Rīga"
RIX Yearbook 2014
Special Tour for the
Readers of the Magazine
IEVAS STĀSTI
World’s Biggest Aircraft
An-225 Lands at Riga
Airport
On 10 February 2014, the magazine IEVAS
STĀSTI (Ieva’s Stories) jointly with Riga International Airport realized a project “Unusual
Appointment”. The project offered the readers
of the magazine an opportunity to visit places
where nobody had been before, to meet people who you cannot usually meet. The readers
were taken on a guided tour of the airport, they
visited the dispatcher’s room, had a look at the
aerodrome territory and aircraft under the guidance of Dzintra Jātniece, Director of Airfield
Management Department.
On 12 June 2014, Riga Airport welcomed
the world’s largest aircraft An-225 Mrija
(“Мрия”– in Ukrainian means – “dream”).
An-225 is a cargo plane built in the Soviet
Union in the 80ies of the 20th century. It
transported the equipment of the Latvian
military to the area of EU military operations
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Lottery “Don’t miss your
lucky chance – come to
the airport earlier!”
in the Central African Republic. An-225 Mrija
came to Riga once more on 24 November. It
is the longest and heaviest aircraft that has
ever been built and flied. Its wingspan is the
vastest among the modern aircraft and only
one such aircraft exists.
For the second year already, Riga International
Airport was conducting a lottery titled “Don’t
miss your lucky chance – come to the airport
earlier!”
The purpose of the lottery was to make the summer travel season more pleasant and to encourage passengers to come to the airport in good
time. The participants could win gift coupons for
EUR 75, EUR 150 and EUR 1000, two tickets to
any destination of airBaltic, the airport’s RIX Club
privilege cards and other valuable gifts.
In order to participate in the lottery, the passengers had to arrive at the airport’s security control
checkpoint at least one hour and a half before
their departure. After the security control, from
special tables, the passengers could pick up a
lottery application form, complete and drop it into
a special box. The lottery was arranged jointly
with ATU Duty Free and airBaltic.
The main prize of the lottery went to Baiba Ģērmane, who chose a trip to Israel.
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International Airport "Rīga"
RIX Yearbook 2014
Riga Airport Team Takes
Part in Nordea Riga
Marathon
Seventy-seven employees of Riga International Airport took part in Nordea Riga Marathon. Thirty-six of them ran the 5km distance,
twenty-five – 10 km, eleven runners took part
in the half-marathon race, and the remaining
five - in the full marathon. The airport team
wore special t-shirts, caps and was supplied
with refreshments. The colleagues supported
and cheered up the runners.
On 6 February 2014, Riga Airport became a
venue of solemn seeing off Latvia’s Olympic athletes to 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.
The ceremony was attended by Andris Bērziņš,
President of State, Anrijs Matīss, Minister of
Transport, Ina Druviete, Minister for Education
and Science, Žoržs Tikmers, Secretary General
of the Latvian Olympic Committee and leader
of the Latvian Olympic Delegation, Algirdas
Butkevičius, President of Ministers of Lithuania,
Daina Grudzinevičiute, President of the Lithua-
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Bobsleigh and Skeleton
Athletes Demonstrate
Their Olympic Equipment
at Riga Airport
Seeing off and Welcoming
Home the Olympic
Athletes
nian Olympic Committee as well as the Olympic
delegations of Latvia and Lithuania.
As of 15 February, the airport hosted the
welcoming ceremonies of the Latvian athletes
to which their relatives, fans and supporters as
well as media representatives were invited. The
airport provided free car parking places for the
fans. The arrivals hall of the airport was packed
with the greeters and live broadcasts of the
events were shown on the Latvian TV.
For the second consecutive year, Riga Airport
jointly with the Latvian Federation of Bobsleigh
and Skeleton offered its visitors and passengers
the opportunity to see the bobsleigh sled in the
Departures Sector E. Before Sochi Games, the
sled that had run at Turin Winter Olympics had
been displayed whereas after Sochi Games the
sled of the silver medallists was brought to the
airport. The results of the Latvian athletes in
the latest seasons were shown on a video monitor.
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