newstodate.aero
APR 21, 2005 (newstodate): Extraordinary Russian cargo traffic is probably behind the unusual steep growth in Riga Airport's volumes since the start of this year.
During the first three months this year, Riga Airport generated a total of 3,760 tonnes of air cargo, up 58.2 percent y-o-y, and up 203.7 percent on January-March, 2003.
-These extraordinary figures probably reflect an unusual charter traffic of consumer goods from China to Russia, says Olegs Korse, Riga Airport's cargo handling company.
-In August 2003, the Russian aviation authorities imposed restrictions on charter operations from China to Russia because of serious violations of flight safety and customs regulations by freighter operators. As a result, the traffic was re-routed via Baltic airports Kaunas, Lithuania, or Riga, Latvia.
-The IL-76 freighters thus take off in China, make intermediate landings in Russia for refuelling before landing in Riga, where the cargo loads are then transferred by trucks to Russia.
-Based on the number of aircraft movements registered, the volume of such traffic recorded by the airport as import cargo totals about 300-400 tonnes in January and February, and about 1500 tonnes in March, he says.
In January Riga Airport generated 112 tonnes of exports and 662 tonnes of imports, in February the figures were 128/553 tonnes, and in March 176/2129 tonnes, respectively.
During the first three months this year, Riga Airport generated a total of 3,760 tonnes of air cargo, up 58.2 percent y-o-y, and up 203.7 percent on January-March, 2003.
-These extraordinary figures probably reflect an unusual charter traffic of consumer goods from China to Russia, says Olegs Korse, Riga Airport's cargo handling company.
-In August 2003, the Russian aviation authorities imposed restrictions on charter operations from China to Russia because of serious violations of flight safety and customs regulations by freighter operators. As a result, the traffic was re-routed via Baltic airports Kaunas, Lithuania, or Riga, Latvia.
-The IL-76 freighters thus take off in China, make intermediate landings in Russia for refuelling before landing in Riga, where the cargo loads are then transferred by trucks to Russia.
-Based on the number of aircraft movements registered, the volume of such traffic recorded by the airport as import cargo totals about 300-400 tonnes in January and February, and about 1500 tonnes in March, he says.
In January Riga Airport generated 112 tonnes of exports and 662 tonnes of imports, in February the figures were 128/553 tonnes, and in March 176/2129 tonnes, respectively.