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Flight connections at Riga International Airport - Latvia

Riga International Airport (IATA airport code: RIX) is a regional airport serving the capital of Latvia. It’s the hub of airBaltic, which is the biggest airline operating in the Baltics and provides good connections to Estonia’s capital Tallinn and Lithuania’s capital Vilnius. The routes Riga - Tallinn and Riga - Vilnius are served by frequent daily flights.


Riga airport from the outside. Source: Wikipedia
 

Latvia is part of the Schengen area, which impacts the transit procedures at Riga airport. If you are arriving from a Schengen country and traveling onwards to another Schengen country, you will not need to pass through passport control and security checks. If however your onward destination is in the non-Schengen area, then you will pass through passport control. If you are arriving from a non-Schengen country and traveling to a Schengen country, in addition to passport control, you will also be subject to a security check. And finally, if you are traveling from a non-Schengen country to another non-Schengen country via Riga airport, then you will be subject to security check only
 
The main transit area is located on the second floor of the airport (map here). The main shopping and dining area is located in the zone between Gates B and C. There you can also find the transfer desk. The airport is rather compact, ensuring smooth transfer in case you have limited connection time to catch your onward flight. In the transfer area you can find plenty of shops, including traditional latvian souvenir outlet, cafes and smoking lounges. There are drinking water facilities as well. 

In case of overnight connections, staying at an airport hotel can be a good option. Riga airport is one of the few regional airports offering airside hotel accommodation at reasonable prices. The Kepler club Riga airport hotel is accessible via the EU transit area and is located on the third floor. You can book it from here. Kepler club hotel  is also accessible via the landside public area. You can check it and book from here. The Sky High hotel is located just outside of the terminal, and Hampton by Hilton Riga airport is just a kilometer away. All hotels in the airport and in close vicinity you can book from here.

It is important to note that transit passengers are allowed to bring liquids on board, but in case they are bought in duty free shops at departure airports and placed in sealed bags accompanied by purchase proof/receipts. 

airBaltic business class transit passengers can enjoy access to the RIX business lounge, which is spacious and comfortable. 

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