Summary:
- Riga Airport has selected international operators across duty free, food & beverage, convenience retail and business lounge services following a competitive tender process.
- Avolta, WHSmith franchise operator TheMillerGroup and Primeclass operator TAV Latvia Operations Services will introduce enhanced commercial offerings from January 2027.
- The new concepts will integrate Latvian brands and products, supporting local businesses while improving the passenger experience and growing non-aviation revenues.
RIX Riga Airport has concluded its international tender for the management of commercial areas within the passenger terminal, selecting winners across all four tender lots: duty free retail, food & beverage, convenience retail, and business lounge services.
The duty free retail and food & beverage lot has been awarded to the Swiss company Dufry International AG, operating under the Avolta brand. The convenience retail lot has been awarded to Malta-based TheMillerGroup, operating under the WHSmith franchise, while the business lounge services lot has been awarded to the current service provider TAV Latvia Operations Services, operating in Riga under the Primeclass brand.
“We highly value the fact that the tender has enabled us to attract strong international operators whose scale and expertise will further enhance the quality of services at Riga Airport,” said Laila Odiņa, Chairperson of the Board, Riga Airport. “Partners of this calibre bring high industry standards, foster innovation, and provide passengers with a more diverse and modern airport experience, while also contributing to the growth of non-aviation revenues and strengthening the airport’s competitiveness at both the regional and international levels. At the same time, I would like to thank our current commercial operator, TAV Latvia Operations Services, for the longstanding partnership in shaping the passenger experience at Latvia’s gateway to the world – Riga Airport.”
Arturs Saveļjevs, Member of the Board of Riga Airport responsible for commercial affairs, added: “The tender requirements placed particular emphasis on the integration of Latvian producers, local brands, and elements of Latvian identity into the commercial concepts and interior design proposals. We are pleased that the selected operators have reflected these priorities in their bids. As a result, Riga Airport’s future commercial offer will feature a broader representation of Latvian-made products and brands, providing meaningful support to local producers and contributing to the growth of the Latvian economy.”
The new operators will commence operations at Riga Airport on 1 January 2027, following the expiry of the current concession agreement with the existing commercial operator SIA ‘TAV Latvia’. The agreements with the selected operators, concluded in accordance with the Public-Private Partnership Law, provide for long-term cooperation, including after the completion of Riga Airport’s passenger terminal expansion project.
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