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urope’s air cargo network is being quietly reshaped at its edges, as smaller gateways attempt to capture flows that no longer fit neatly through the continent’s largest hubs. Congestion, cost pressures and the need for more predictable transit are pushing freight forwarders to reconsider


routings, particularly for time-sensitive cargo. One response has been the development of new corridors linking Northern Europe with Central Asia, a region that is gaining traction as a transit bridge between Europe, Asia and the Middle East. For the Baltic states, this presents both an opportunity and a test of whether smaller markets can generate the scale needed to sustain dedicated freighter operations. The cooperation between RAVA Cargo and Uzbekistan-based carrier


FLYKHIVA reflects a deliberate attempt to establish a more direct connection between these regions. Rather than feeding into traditional European hubs, the model is built around bypassing them. “The partnership was established to create a direct and reliable air


cargo bridge between the Baltic region and Central Asia,” said Artūras Jurkevičius, CEO of RAVA Cargo. The aim, he added, is to “diversify logistics routes Baltics region and provide an efficient alternative to traditional European cargo hubs.” At its core, the strategy is about control. By reducing reliance


on congested hubs, forwarders gain greater predictability over transit times, an increasingly valuable commodity for cargo such as pharmaceuticals, electronics and e-commerce shipments. Riga International Airport sits at the centre of this approach,


positioned as a consolidation point for cargo from the Baltics and Scandinavia before onward movement eastwards. From Central Asia, shipments can then be redistributed further into Asian or Middle Eastern markets.


Speed over scale The appeal of the Riga–Central Asia corridor lies less in network breadth and more in operational efficiency. Smaller airports, while lacking the frequency of major hubs, can offer faster handling and fewer bottlenecks. According to Jurkevičius, “Cargo can move between Riga and


Central Asia in approximately 24–36 hours airport-to-airport, avoiding congestion at large European hubs.” Fewer handling points translate


into reduced risk, whether in terms of delays, damage or temperature deviations for sensitive goods. This is particularly relevant for high-value and time-critical


shipments, where reliability often outweighs marginal cost differences. In such cases, a slightly more expensive but predictable route can be preferable to a cheaper, congested alternative. Riga’s geographic position strengthens this proposition. With


established road links to neighbouring Baltic states and Scandinavia, it can function as a regional collection point feeding into a single outbound corridor. Yet the success of such corridors depends on a factor that cannot


be engineered as easily as infrastructure: consistent cargo volume. “New freighter routes require a stable and predictable flow of


shipments,” Jurkevičius noted. “If export volumes from the Baltic and Nordic regions are not sufficient, airlines may face low load factors,


which can make routes economically difficult to maintain in the long term.” This challenge is compounded by strong competition. Major hubs


such as Frankfurt, Istanbul and Dubai continue to dominate due to their frequency, connectivity and established cargo ecosystems. Even within the region, airports like Warsaw offer broader networks that can attract forwarders seeking flexibility. Fragmentation within the Baltic market further complicates


matters. If cargo continues to be routed through multiple airports rather than consolidated, building the critical mass needed to sustain regular freighter services becomes significantly harder. External risks also remain. Geopolitical shifts,


regulatory changes and airspace


restrictions can all affect route viability, while operational pressures, from fuel costs to aircraft availability, can quickly erode any efficiency gains.


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about aircraft capacity. The deeper problem sits on the ground: fragmented corridors, duplicated customs ...


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Jelena Babic is Chief Growth & Engagement Officer at Neutral Air Partner (NAP), the global network of air cargo architects and logistics ...


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