Latvia hopes to witness the beginning of large cargo deliveries by drones next summer, aiming to lower transport costs and speed up shipment times while enhancing logistics, according to a regional broadcaster.
Latvian public broadcaster LSM cited the local TV Kurzeme as reporting that work is underway to implement the first test flights between Liepāja in Latvia to Palanga in neighboring Lithuania, both cities on the countries’ Baltic coast, at a distance of roughly 75 kilometers (46 miles).
Latvian state air transport firm Latvijas Gaisa Satiksme and its Lithuanian counterpart are currently carrying out preparatory work before the expected launch of test runs in August 2025.
Artūrs Kokars, director of the aviation department in the Latvian transport ministry was quoted as saying that drone usage in aviation can result in the development of regional airports.
“Because these services are much lower cost, they are more competitive and also have high mobility,” Kokars said.
The Latvian regional Liepaja International Airport is reportedly ready to receive drones. However, the facility has yet to get warehouses and cargo handling centers.
For the practice runs, the aviation authorities plan to use drones with a wingspan of about 13 meters, a length of 12 meters, a height of 3 meters, and a maximum take-off mass of 1.7 tonnes. The drones will be able to carry a load of up to 460 kilograms. The flight altitude will be over 600 meters.
The route has not been finalized yet as authorities check various risks and conditions while preparing for the test runs. Following the evaluation of test results, project stakeholders are expected to decide whether any further improvements are needed or whether they can begin working on regular flight services.
“This type of flight could be developed within Latvia or cross-border flights or even flights over the Baltic Sea. If we can take out even the cost of pilots’ salaries from the transport component, then this segment becomes commercially viable,” Kokars told TV Kurzeme.
Latvian state air transport firm Latvijas Gaisa Satiksme and its Lithuanian counterpart are currently carrying out preparatory work before the expected launch of test runs in August 2025.
Artūrs Kokars, director of the aviation department in the Latvian transport ministry was quoted as saying that drone usage in aviation can result in the development of regional airports.
“Because these services are much lower cost, they are more competitive and also have high mobility,” Kokars said.
The Latvian regional Liepaja International Airport is reportedly ready to receive drones. However, the facility has yet to get warehouses and cargo handling centers.
For the practice runs, the aviation authorities plan to use drones with a wingspan of about 13 meters, a length of 12 meters, a height of 3 meters, and a maximum take-off mass of 1.7 tonnes. The drones will be able to carry a load of up to 460 kilograms. The flight altitude will be over 600 meters.
The route has not been finalized yet as authorities check various risks and conditions while preparing for the test runs. Following the evaluation of test results, project stakeholders are expected to decide whether any further improvements are needed or whether they can begin working on regular flight services.
“This type of flight could be developed within Latvia or cross-border flights or even flights over the Baltic Sea. If we can take out even the cost of pilots’ salaries from the transport component, then this segment becomes commercially viable,” Kokars told TV Kurzeme.
