Hello, 

Welcome to the sixth edition of Lithuanian Airports newsletter with the overview of the most important quarterly news from the 2023.

Lithuanian Airports’ results for the first quarter of 2023

In March, the number of passengers at Lithuanian airports grew by more than a third compared to the previous year, and two airports - Kaunas and Palanga - improved their record results for 2019. The first quarter of this year was also a successful one for Lithuanian aviation.

In the first three months of this year, almost 1.18 million passengers used the services of Lithuanian airports (44% more), more than 10.7 thousand flights were serviced (7% more), and more than 4.8 thousand tonnes of cargo were transported (0.7% growth).

"At the beginning of last year, passenger flows had not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels, but this situation is changing rapidly. Vilnius Airport is still some way off the record year of 2019, while Kaunas and Palanga airports are maintaining very strong growth and are already exceeding the records set in 2019," notes  Head of Route Development at Lithuanian Airports Tomas Zitikis.

May 9-11, 2023
Łódź, Poland

For the first time in history, Vilnius Airport will be served by as many as four airlines of the “Lufthansa” Group: resumption of direct flights to Brussels

From the end of March, “Lufthansa”, one of Europe's leading airlines, operates direct scheduled flights with four of its group airlines for the first time in history at Vilnius Airport. “Lufthansa”, “Swiss”, “Austrian Airlines” and “Brussels Airlines”, all part of the German capital group, are flying passengers to four destinations.

According to representatives of Lithuanian Airports, “Lufthansa” and “Swiss” airlines are operating flights to Frankfurt and Zurich, and from the end of March (26 March) two more routes have started: “Austrian Airlines” are flying directly to Vienna and “Brussels Airlines” to Brussels.

The construction of a new departure terminal at Vilnius Airport has started: a project of strategic importance for Lithuanian aviation 

On 31 January, during an official ceremony, the construction of Vilnius Airport's new departure terminal was announced. The large-scale project is said to last two years. The first travelers will be able to use the new terminal in early 2025.

The main purpose of the new departure terminal project is to increase the capacity to handle a larger number of passengers, as well as to introduce innovations in the new terminal that will help to make the travelers' experience even smoother and to ensure greater efficiency in airport operations. 

The 14,400 square meter terminal will increase the total area of Vilnius Airport's passenger terminals by a third and double the passenger throughput to 2,400 passengers per hour.

Preparing for big changes at Kaunas Airport: upcoming expansion projects

Lithuanian Airports are launching market consultations on an international public tender to be announced at the end of April to find a contractor for the expansion of the Kaunas Airport passenger terminal. 

Kaunas Airport will renovate and expand both arrival and departure areas for passengers.

The expansion works are expected to start in the second half of this year and will last about two years. Once completed, the departures and arrivals areas of Kaunas Airport will be able to handle more than 800 passengers and up to 6 aircraft simultaneously.

Lithuanian Airports announces an international tender for the operator of all its parking lots

Lithuanian Airports has announced an international tender for the selection of the operator of all the parking lots managed by Lithuanian Airports. 

The new operator will manage more than 3,300 parking spaces (existing and planned in the future) at three airports in Vilnius, Kaunas and Palanga. 

It is being planned that the winner of the tender will take over the management of the parking spaces in the second half of this year.