Liepaja and Ventspils airports are planning to apply for EU Cohesion funds in order it could resume flights to Scandinavia and Russia in the following years, decided the Cabinet of Ministrs.

Although Daugavpils airport will not be given the opportunity to apply for the project, it plans operate flights from all over Europe in the future.

The funds of the first round in amount of 41.1 million lats were allocated to the infrastructure development of Riga International Airport. 3.5 million lats will be available in the second round, informs the Ministry of Traffic.

Liepaja and Ventspils airports have already made significant modernizations, therefore they need less finances to resume regular air services. Daugavpils after regaining independence has not been able to resume passenger services, and it has not received financial support from the state either; hence it will require more investment, it was said in the information report to the government. However the Ministry of Traffic indicates that Daugavpils is located in a strategically favorable place, which means that funding of it could be found in the future from another sources.

In case Liepaja airport receives EU funds, it could be able to resume international flights in 2012, while Ventspils Airport – in 2011.

Companies GESI Espaniola SA and SRDI SA have expressed their interest to participate in Daugavpils Airport development. The companies consider that the airport could operate flights to tens of different cities of Europe. Strategic investor research of Daugavpils is planned to be completed by October this year.