newstodate.aero
Jan 19, 2015 (newstodate): The Latvian carrier airBaltic is feeling the cold winds blowing from Russia and the CIS markets during the current times of crisis.
-Riga is in the middle of the West-East trade lane. Most consumer goods are produced in the West, or transported via hubs in Western Europe, such as pharmaceuticals, technical equipment and electronics etc, says Toms Andersons, airBaltic Head of Cargo.
-I think everyone in the forwarding and logistics chain will be affected. The Russian Ruble is less than half its worth from one year ago, and importers do not want to take forex risks right now. Overall, it is not lethal for airBaltic's cargo business right now - but not nice either.
-Actually, this year's forecast for cargo volumes at Riga Airport looks very, very bad. We've got to embrace for impact now, says Mr Andersons.
And cargo statistics from Riga Airport do lend strong support to these comments.
In December 2014, the airport saw its cargo volumes down by 15.6 percent, y-o-y, to a total of 2,069 tonnes, while full-year cargo volumes in 2014 dropped by 38.4 percent, y-o-y, to a total of 32,983 tonnes.
-Riga is in the middle of the West-East trade lane. Most consumer goods are produced in the West, or transported via hubs in Western Europe, such as pharmaceuticals, technical equipment and electronics etc, says Toms Andersons, airBaltic Head of Cargo.
-I think everyone in the forwarding and logistics chain will be affected. The Russian Ruble is less than half its worth from one year ago, and importers do not want to take forex risks right now. Overall, it is not lethal for airBaltic's cargo business right now - but not nice either.
-Actually, this year's forecast for cargo volumes at Riga Airport looks very, very bad. We've got to embrace for impact now, says Mr Andersons.
And cargo statistics from Riga Airport do lend strong support to these comments.
In December 2014, the airport saw its cargo volumes down by 15.6 percent, y-o-y, to a total of 2,069 tonnes, while full-year cargo volumes in 2014 dropped by 38.4 percent, y-o-y, to a total of 32,983 tonnes.