Passenger traffic patterns displaying varied patterns in Latvia
Riga Airport, the busiest in Latvia, has witnessed a remarkable resurgence in the first quarter of 2025. The number of direct passengers at Riga Airport in May exceeded pre-pandemic levels by 6%, while the total number of passengers for the quarter reached 1.4 million, an impressive 8.3% increase compared to Q1 2024. By the end of May, the airport had handled 683,000 passengers, bringing the year-to-date total to 2.7 million, a 7% increase compared to the same period in 2024.
The aviation sector's growth is further underscored by a 10% rise in air cargo volumes at Riga Airport in May, reaching 7,623 tonnes. The number of flights at Riga Airport in May also grew by 5% year-on-year, totalling 25,000 flights. These figures have contributed to a significant turnaround, as Riga Airport recorded a profit of EUR 848,000 in Q1 2025, contrasting with a loss of EUR 540,000 in the same period last year. The airport's revenue for Q1 2025 was EUR 17.4 million.
Elsewhere, land passenger transport saw a 2.1% increase compared to Q1 2024, amounting to 47.8 million passengers. Tram and trolleybus services experienced growth, with an 8% increase in passengers carried by trams and a 0.4% increase in passengers carried by trolleybuses compared to Q1 2024. However, regular bus traffic lines saw a decrease of 1.6% during the same period.
The rail sector also experienced a significant boost, with a 18.5% increase in passengers carried compared to Q1 2024, totalling 4.8 million passengers. The companies responsible for this growth were not specified in the provided information.
In the maritime sector, passenger turnover at Ventspils port decreased by 3% in Q1 2025, with 49.5 thousand passengers, while at LiepaΜja port, the figure dropped by 12.8%, with 15.7 thousand passengers. A total of 65.2 thousand passengers arrived at and departed from Ventspils and LiepaΜja ports with ferries in Q1 2025, marking a decrease of 5.6% compared to Q1 2024.
As the country continues to recover from the pandemic's impact, these figures paint a promising picture of a revitalised transport sector in Latvia.
