Hello, 

Welcome to the seventh edition of Lithuanian Airports newsletter with the overview of the most important news from the 2nd quarter of 2023.

Simonas Bartkus has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of Lithuanian Airports

After Marius Skuodis, Minister of Transport and Communications, signed an order regarding the appointment of the new CEO of SE Lithuanian Airports (Lietuvos Oro Uostai, LOU) who won the competition, this position has been entrusted to Simonas Bartkus, who has 10 years of management experience in aviation and transport. 

Simonas Bartkus will take up his new position in the enterprise, which manages Vilnius, Kaunas and Palanga International Airports, on 16 August.

The first half of 2023 at Lithuanian Airports: consistent and targeted growth of aviation indicators

In the first half of this year, the number of passengers at the Lithuanian airports grew by one-fifth compared to the same period last year, and the three airports of the country served a total of 2.5% more flights. In addition, compared to last year, higher passenger traffic resulted in a much better load factor.

According to Tomas Zitikis, Head of Route Development at Lithuanian Airports, the passenger indicators of June provided positive updates. 

In Vilnius, in the first month of summer, almost the same number of passengers were served as last year, in Kaunas – by a tenth more. A slight negative correction was recorded only at Palanga Airport (7% less). 

In aviation, the occupancy rate is an important indicator - in June of this year, the overall indicator of all three airports improved by 6% (both on low-cost and traditional airline planes).

October 15-17, 2023
Istanbul, Türkiye

Lithuanian Airports passed a historic test – successfully received and farewelled all of the guests of the NATO Summit

During the NATO Summit, the Vilnius Airport had become probably the most secure civilian airport in the world. 

The joint efforts of the specialists of the Vilnius, Kaunas and Palanga Airports and a total of more than 1,000 professionals from various authorities and countries were aimed at ensuring the safe and smooth landing and take-off of more than 50 special aircraft as well as the reception and farewelling of several thousand important guests.

According to the calculations of Lithuanian Airports, during the peak of the aircraft traffic, planes (commercial and carrying delegations) took off and landed at the Vilnius Airport every 3–4 minutes.

Search for contractors to develop Kaunas Airport

Kaunas Airport is taking an important strategic step - international tenders for the selection of contractors for the passenger terminal and the northern apron expansion projects have been announced. 

This year's data shows that passenger flows at Kaunas Airport are at a record high and ahead of previous forecasts. If this trend continues, this year Kaunas Airport will handle more than 1.3 million passengers, which is well above its design capacity.

The changes will not only expand passenger capacity, but will also help to increase the volume of aircraft maintenance services, as Kaunas Airport is one of the most important aircraft repair and maintenance bases in the Baltic region, and will create conditions for the growth of freight traffic.

Vilnius Airport passengers will be transported by electric buses 

Lithuanian Airports, in pursuit of its strategic goal of becoming a CO2-neutral organisation by 2030, announces that it will start a modernisation programme for all buses serving passengers at Vilnius Airport in autumn this year. 

Public procurement procedures will be launched and 12 hybrid or all-electric buses are expected to be procured and made available to ground handlers over the coming year, replacing all diesel buses currently used by ground handlers.

Lithuanian airports introduce preclearance flight coordination procedure - a new tool to prevent circumvention of EU sanctions at airports

Following the launch of the advance flight preclearance and screening system at the initiative of Lithuanian airports in early May, it is reported that positive results are already being observed. 

According to the representatives of the airports, the new system was essentially designed to manage the potential sanctioning and operational risks associated with incoming military, private charter or general aviation flights, as well as risks directly related to the actual owners of the aircraft and the passengers on board.