Riga Airport continues to operate in a limited capacity

Following the suspension of international scheduled and non-scheduled passenger flights, as of 17 March, Riga Airport will continue operations on a limited basis, serving repatriation flights, cargo transportation and other permitted flights. Domestic flights from Riga to Liepaja operated by the national airline airBaltic will also continue.

The Airport in cooperation with the Emergency Medical Service will continue medical screening of arriving passengers on repatriation flights and will inform travellers of the need for a mandatory 14-day quarantine. Medical points at the Airport will work according to the schedules of these flights.

“Safety and health of our employees and the public are a priority and value at Riga Airport, and we must adopt and implement the measures in place to limit further spread of COVID-19 virus. Our main task during this time of crisis is to ensure the operation of these flights, as well as the operational and financial stability of the company, so that Airport operations can be fully restored as soon as possible once the situation normalizes. I would like to thank the Airport's professional team for their effort during this stressful period,” says Ilona Lice, Chairperson of the Board of Riga Airport.

There are currently 45 aircraft parked at the Airport with Riga Airport as their base airport: 37 airBaltic aircraft, 6 SmartLynx and two WizzAir aircraft, as well as three private aircraft. In total, more than 50 aircraft will stay at Riga Airport during the flight restriction period.

The companies operating at the Airport will continue to repair aircraft; there will be training flights and technical flights without passengers. Airlines wishing to obtain a special permit for passenger transport should contact the Aviation Department of the Ministry of Transport. Information on flights authorized by the Minister of Transport can be found on the website of the Ministry of Transport at http://sam.gov.lv/?cat=8&art_id=9533 Prior to purchasing tickets, passengers should make sure that the respective flight has been approved by the Minister for Transport.

The Airport reminds that passengers have to settle any issues related to the cancellation or change of their flight bookings, as well as the recovery of their funds with their airlines. The Airport encourages passengers to address these issues remotely without having to arrive at the Airport.

Latvian nationals who are abroad and experience an emergency situation should contact the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs by calling +371 26337711 and register in the Consular Register. Those wishing to return home by air should register on the airBaltic website. The Airport reminds that foreign nationals will not be allowed to enter Latvia after 00.00 on 17 March, unless specifically authorized by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of the Interior. Foreign nationals, who are in Latvia and wish to leave, may cross the state border. Foreign citizens, who are in Latvia and have not found an opportunity to leave, should contact the embassy of their country.

As reported before, a state of emergency has been declared in the country to limit the spread of the novel coronavirus disease COVID-19 in Latvia, and from 17 March this year (00:00) until 14 April (23:39) international passenger transport to and from Riga Airport has been suspended.

The last international passenger flight arrived at Riga Airport with the special permission of the Minister of Transport in the early morning of 17 March from Kutaisi, Georgia and was operated by the Hungarian low-cost airline WizzAir.