RIGA - Riga International Airport is continuing its string of success, establishing record passenger numbers and having been named one of Europe's best airports in a recent survey.
The airport saw 810,859 passengers pass through its doors in the first half of 2005, up an astonishing 87.3 percent from the same period last year. In June alone the airport handled 180,557 people, a record number for recent years.
Prompted by tourism and both new travel routes and airlines, year-to-year airport traffic grew to 16,449 flight, a 32.2 percent increase compared with the same period in 2004. The amount of cargo increased 70.6 percent, airport spokesman Andorijs Darzins said.
This year the airport plans to serve at least 1.5 million passengers.
Meanwhile, Riga International Airport received honors in a recent performance evaluation at the International Council of Airports' 15th annual European congress in Munich. The airport was named the best European airport serving 1 's 5 million passengers per year.
The airports of Frankfurt (over 25 million passengers), Athens (10-25 million passengers), Marseilles (5-10 million passengers) and Sarajevo (up to 1 million passengers) were also named as the best in their respective categories.
The jury used various criteria to assess the airports, such as passenger hospitality, aircraft service, security measures and non-aviation services, Darzins explained.
Airport chairman Dzintars Pomers noted that this was the highest international recognition yet received.
