The airport has begun operating the new site which is set to decrease the hub’s carbon footprint

Riga Airport has started to operate its second rapid exit taxiway which was subsidised by the operator’s Cohesion Fund.

The new facility was opened last Thursday (September 9), when an airBaltic flight landed at the facility.

According to the hub, the taxiway will help the airport decrease its fuel consumption and time spent during the landing manoeuvres, limiting emitted pollutants.

“The new rapid exit taxiway is another purposeful step of Riga Airport towards the development of sustainable airfield infrastructure,” said Laila Odiņa, chairperson of Riga Airport Board. “Being an airport that has undertaken to reach the zero-emission level by 2050, Riga Airport invests in the acceleration and efficiency of airfield processes thereby minimising the amount of emitted pollutants. This is an investment in the future that cares for the environment and decreasing the climate changes.”

Road construction firm, SIA Binders, completed the €2.6m (£2.2m) project which required specific organisation to work around the other airfield operations. All the technology based changes occurred at night, to limit disruptions.

It was reported that Riga was carrying out the construction on a large scale. The airport taxiways consist of centreline lights and a helipad for search and rescue services.

Alongside this latest project, the cohesion fund was used to reconstruct public access roads, modernise the rainwater sewerage and upgrade the lighting infrastructure.