newstodate.aero
JAN 23, 2004 (newstodate): Latest figures on 2003 from Baltic Cargo Center at Riga prove that the year did perform nicely.
-For 2003 we noted an increase by 24 percent, totalling 10,448 tonnes of air cargo, says Olegs Korshe, BCC exec director.
Of the total volume, exports accounted for 8,356 tonnes (up 20 percent), and imports for 2,092 tonnes (25 percent).
-In 2003 BCC landed Aeroflot as a new customer alongside airBaltic, SAS and Lufthansa, he says.
-As for 2004, we do not expect a steep increase in cargo carried to and from Riga on scheduled flights. Our entry into the EU by May 2004 could have rather a moderating influence that could even turn negative during a period if Latvian state bodies like customs, tax and sanitary authorities are not fully prepared for their new status, he says.
Mr Korshe also does not expect ex-China charter flights to Riga to continue into 2004.
-The traffic was indeed of an obviously artificial nature, he says.
-Air cargo volumes will reflect the development of our local economy, so we expect a growth rate around six to 10 percent, compared to 2003. On the other hand, as airBaltic is expanding the aircraft fleet, added space and new destinations could lead to more transit traffic through Riga, and we have already noticed an early trend in increasing transit loads, says Olegs Korshe.
-For 2003 we noted an increase by 24 percent, totalling 10,448 tonnes of air cargo, says Olegs Korshe, BCC exec director.
Of the total volume, exports accounted for 8,356 tonnes (up 20 percent), and imports for 2,092 tonnes (25 percent).
-In 2003 BCC landed Aeroflot as a new customer alongside airBaltic, SAS and Lufthansa, he says.
-As for 2004, we do not expect a steep increase in cargo carried to and from Riga on scheduled flights. Our entry into the EU by May 2004 could have rather a moderating influence that could even turn negative during a period if Latvian state bodies like customs, tax and sanitary authorities are not fully prepared for their new status, he says.
Mr Korshe also does not expect ex-China charter flights to Riga to continue into 2004.
-The traffic was indeed of an obviously artificial nature, he says.
-Air cargo volumes will reflect the development of our local economy, so we expect a growth rate around six to 10 percent, compared to 2003. On the other hand, as airBaltic is expanding the aircraft fleet, added space and new destinations could lead to more transit traffic through Riga, and we have already noticed an early trend in increasing transit loads, says Olegs Korshe.