Riga Airport Forges Strategic Aviation Training Alliance with Incheon Aviation Academy

Historic Partnership Signed for Aviation Training Excellence

RIX Riga Airport in Latvia officially signed a cooperation memorandum with the Aviation Academy of South Korea's Incheon International Airport Corporation (IIAC) on December 5, 2025. This strategic alliance marks a significant step towards elevating global aviation training standards and expanding the international reach of Riga Airport's training center, RIX Academy.

The agreement is designed to enhance aviation training through extensive collaboration, aiming to attract a broader range of trainees and reinforce international cooperation. Ms. Laila Odiņa, Chairperson of the Board of Riga Airport, emphasized that this memorandum is a 'strategic step that will enable us to reinforce international cooperation and offer training programmes of the highest quality.'

Scope of Cooperation and Joint Initiatives

The memorandum outlines a comprehensive framework for cooperation between the two prominent aviation training institutions. Key areas of collaboration include:

• Joint development and implementation of new training programs and courses
• Instructor exchanges and competency development
• Promotion of training activities
• Collaboration in the field of human resource development

This partnership combines the European-standard expertise of RIX Academy with the competencies of the Incheon Aviation Academy, creating new opportunities to export knowledge and attract clients globally.

RIX Academy: A Hub for European Aviation Training

RIX Academy, the training center of Riga Airport, is a well-established institution offering professional aviation training. It provides more than 160 training programs across various critical aviation fields, including aviation security, ground handling, airfield operations, and crisis management. Annually, RIX Academy trains over 15,000 specialists from Latvia and abroad. Since 2017, it has been an Airports Council International (ACI) accredited training center, offering internationally recognized courses. In 2023, RIX Academy further solidified its standing by joining the family of ACI Accredited Training Partners.

Incheon Aviation Academy: A Global Leader in Asia-Pacific

The Incheon International Airport Corporation Aviation Academy (IAAA) is recognized as one of the leading aviation training centers in the Asia-Pacific region. Established in 2008, IAAA has provided high-quality aviation training programs to over 10,000 aviation professionals from 150 countries worldwide. The academy boasts certifications from three globally renowned international aviation organizations: Airports Council International (ACI), the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), and the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Notably, IAAA made history in 2011 by becoming the first institution in the world to receive ICAO's TRAINAIR PLUS certification.