Riga airport begins exporting Latvian cattle by air

Riga Airport has begun exporting cattle raised in Latvia by air to Central Asia, with the third flight already completed, LSM reported. The airport has set up specially adapted infrastructure and prepared for the animals’ transport.

Each cargo flight carries 120 cattle, with eight animals in each pen. A veterinarian monitors their welfare, checking for possible injuries and ensuring they have enough room to turn and move. The veterinarian also assesses their stress levels, which were reported to be low.

For cattle travelling to Uzbekistan, the flight takes about four to five hours. The journey by land could take several weeks and cause more stress than flying, according to the veterinarian. Loading has also become faster: it took nearly three hours on the first occasion, compared with about two hours now.

RIX aviation cargo development manager Nauris Sedols said aviation companies had told the airport that cargo flows from the Baltic states were being routed through other European airports. The project was developed with state institutions and aviation companies to bring those shipments through Riga.

Another flight is planned, and at least 20 are forecast. The cattle are currently being flown only to Uzbekistan, but the airport plans to expand the number of destinations. Sedols said people in Kazakhstan had also expressed interest.