Boeing 737-800BCF services were launched on 18 September, connecting the capital of Latvia with Hong Kong offering regular services and fixed prices for the peak season.
Venipak says the flight was sold out in two days, with goods from the Baltics and Poland including car parts and cosmetics.
For now, the service will remain weekly but Venipak plans to add a second frequency and add freighter flights to Mainland China and the US, and a connection from Hong Kong to the US West Coast.
Justas Sablinskas, CEO of Venipak Group tells Air Logistics International that air services will be a permanent part of the company’s network, and Riga was an obvious choice due to its location in the Baltics, making ground-based logistics easier and reducing delivery times.
He adds: “Latvia has implemented advanced automatisation of customs taxation procedures, which are faster and more frictionless than in most other EU countries.”
The first eight flights will operate weekly with frequencies being doubled in mid-October. Sablinskas says frequencies may be altered depending on demand.