newstodate.aero

Sep 23, 2021 (newstodate): The launch of direct cargo flights between Latvia and Hong Kong may open up a new venue for Norwegian seafood exports as well.
    The new freighter service between Latvia's Riga Airport and Hong Kong, launched on September 18, 2021, is driven by the Lithuanian e-trade logistics provider Venipak, with own offices in China and Hong Kong, and aiming at imports from Hong Kong of e-trade shipments.
   But capacity is also sold on the east-bound flight that is now served by Atran Airlines with one weekly Boeing 737-800 BCF rotation only.
   In the Baltic market, the freighter capacity is marketed and sold by Strike Aviation.
   -Our full attention is now on making the weekly operation a reliable offer trusted in the market, says Andrius Antanaitis, General Manager at JSC Strike Aviation LT representing the carrier in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
   -However, already now plans have been aired for adding a second rotation by mid-October and this would further expand the business opportunities in the market.
   -The Norwegian salmon export is one potential to be considered, and certainly an attractive segment. This will, however, need at least one more rotation, as just one flight from Riga would be too risky for exporters of seafood.
   -But with more flights, the Boeing 737-800 freighter from Riga to Hong Kong might be an alternative for Norwegian exporters; the aircraft is fully capable of meeting the requirements, and the route is operated without reloading of shipments and with only one brief technical stop from Riga to Hong Kong, says Mr Antanaitis.