newstodate.aero

Feb 14, 2024 (newstodate): airBaltic has now released details on its planned new Baltic Cargo Hub at Riga Airport.
   Announcing a partnership with UPB Nams, a major Latvian building company experienced with construction of industrial buildings, airBaltic intends to see its Baltic Cargo Hub becoming the largest dedicated air cargo handling center in the Baltic region.
   airBaltic's existing cargo terminal is to give way to the coming Rail Baltica railway track, while the upcoming Baltic Cargo Hub will significantly increase the carrier's handling capacity at its Riga hub to up to 45,000 tonnes of cargo annually.
   Spanning an area of 6,895 m2 including some 5,000 m2 of cargo handling facilities and another 2,000 m2 of office space, the new Baltic Cargo Hub will be equipped with cutting-edge, semi-automatic cargo handling equipment – Material Handling System (MHS), including a mail sorter.
   Baltic Cargo Hub is designed to offer full special cargo handling capabilities, including dedicated temperature-controlled rooms for pharmaceuticals and perishables, premises for dangerous goods, live animals and valuable shipments, while its design integrates essential functionalities for  Food and Veterinary Services and a Customs checkpoint.
   Initially, airBaltic's Baltic Cargo Hub was slated to open by early 2024 already, but the plan is now to see the inauguration of the facilities by 2025, instead.
    The new air cargo terminal will be handling airBaltic's own and growing operations as well as all-cargo and freighter operators, and will especially be targeting the expected steep growth in e-trade shipments as well as mail volumes.
   Plans are also to seek CEIV Pharma certification after completion of the pertinent infrastructure, including cooling and temperature-controlled areas.