18.1
|
11
|
44 804
|
43 924
|
49 357
|
12.4
|
12
|
41 096
|
40 812
|
45 353
|
11.1
|
Total
|
574 356
|
622 647
|
633 322
|
1.7
|
Table
3. Passenger movements
In 2002 73 passengers out of every
100 handled in Riga (including transit) travelled to or from Western Europe.
Altogether scheduled flights to Western Europe were responsible for the growth
of passengers figures (almost 11000). Berlin, with the highest passengers
growth rate ranks first among the cities of Western Europe (it should be
mentioned, however, that in 2001 there were no scheduled flights on this
route); followed by London with 6.9% and Frankfurt with 6.4%. However, there is
an exception. For the first time passengers figures on the Helsinki route have
dropped by almost 3000 or 3.9% in comparison with the last year.
Nevertheless, Helsinki ranks 2 nd on the list of the most popular destinations.
For the second successive year passenger figures on the Stockholm route have
dropped sharply by almost 14000 or 21%. Accordingly, a Stockholm rank 6th
instead of the previous 3rd, but the Copenhagen has constantly been number one
since 1996, despite a passenger growth rate, which has slowed down on the route.
In 2002 passenger figures for
Eastern and Central Europe have grown slightly. Some destinations have faced
radical changes. As in previous years, passengers figures decreased by 17.3% on
the Moscow route. For the second year after resuming scheduled flights on the
Tallinn route passenger figures went down by 11.4%. Passengers figures on the
Prague route increased significantly by 27.7% for the second year. It should be
underlined that the Prague route has the highest absolute growth rate, i.e. by
13000 passengers more and even surpasses the Copenhagen route.
Accordingly, Prague shows a very convincing growth and ranks 3rd instead of
being 6th in 2001 on the list of the most popular destinations. The success
allowed “ČSA” to pull ahead of such major airlines as “British Airways”, “Lufthansa” and “Finnair”. A couple of years ago such a forecast would have
seemed unbelievable. “ČSA” passengers figures have almost tripled compared
with 1999 and almost doubled compared with 2000.
Only three of the carriers providing
scheduled flights to Riga during the report year have carried fewer passengers
than in 2001, i.e. “Aeroflot” with 29.6%, “Finnair” with 16.3% and “LOT” with
2.7%. These airlines have reduced flight frequency by 35.8%, 2.4% and 1.7%
respectively. “Air Baltic” has carried the majority of passengers to and from
Riga, i.e. 43% of the total number of passengers. “ČSA” with 10% of
passengers handled at “Riga” airport ranks 2nd. As in 2001, “British Airways”
with 9% ranks 3rd, “Lufthansa” with 8% ranks 4th, “Finnair” with 8% is 5th, but
“Latcharter” with 7% is 6th.