Riga is the largest city in the Baltic states and a regional hub for finance, logistics and technology. The Freeport of Riga handles transit cargo between the Baltic Sea and inland markets, banks and payment companies serve clients across northern Europe, and a growing technology scene covers software, drones and life sciences. Government ministries, NATO-related institutions and international organisations bring a regular flow of official visitors. The city’s appeal for leisure is considerable. The old town is listed by UNESCO, the Art Nouveau buildings on Alberta iela and Elizabetes iela are among the finest in Europe, and the Central Market occupies former zeppelin hangars. The beach resort of Jūrmala, with its wooden villas and spas, is about 25 km to the west and busiest in summer.
Scheduled connections from many European cities still require a change, so a private flight saves several hours on a Riga trip. Private jets use Riga International Airport (RIX) in Mārupe, about 10 km west of the city centre, where a dedicated business aviation terminal has operated since 2010. Typical flight times are around 1 hour from Stockholm or Helsinki, around 1 hour 45 minutes from Berlin and around 2 hours 45 minutes from London. The Jet Collection selects the aircraft, arranges handling in Riga and books cars to the old town or Jūrmala.
