Latvia’s Riga Airport has announced the launch of an international tender process to attract investors and developers to its RIX Airport City concept.
The €300m project, which is part of the airport’s medium-term strategy called Runway 2027, includes the development of existing aviation services – passenger and cargo transport – and integration with other business activities from innovation and start-ups, e-commerce, logistics and manufacturing firms, to various kinds of tourism, hospitality, and leisure services.
A new airport terminal capable of handling up to 12 million annual passengers is also expected to be built, along with an on-site railway station.
A 60-acre site owned by the airport has been earmarked for a business and leisure centre spanning 3.5 million square feet (340,000m2). Hotel, office and conference centre space, retail, logistics and light industry, with a preference for aviation-related industries, cargo and logistics, e-commerce development, IT, electronics, tourism, and pharmacy sectors have been defined as the main purposes of the use of the area.
The expected number of daily visitors to the Airport City is expected to exceed 30,000 – comprising passengers, employees, and visitors.
The first stage of the RIX Airport City development, which is aligned with the completion date of the airport's new terminal and Rail Baltica rail link in 2027-2030, includes the development of a four-star hotel with direct access to the terminal, station, and class A office buildings.
The investor tender will take place in two stages with potential interested persons urged to apply for the first qualifying stage by December 16, this year.
After that, Riga Airport, together with the applicants qualified for the second stage will continue the process of negotiation on the details of the initial concept of the RIX Airport City to obtain the most appropriate and economically advantageous proposal for the development and use of the territory.
The contract with the successful tenderer is expected to be concluded by the end of 2023.
The expected scope of investments for the development of the RIX Airport City is up to €300m.
Photo credit: Riga Airport
