RIMINI, Italy—Lithuanian Airports is targeting further expansion across Europe and the Middle East as it looks to build on record passenger growth, according to Ruta Sinkeviciute, head of route development at Lithuanian Airports.
The operator of Vilnius, Kaunas and Palanga airports handled 7.16 million passengers during 2025, an 8% increase year-on-year.
Among the airport group’s most notable recent route development successes was the arrival of flydubai, which launched nonstop service between Vilnius and Dubai, becoming the first Gulf carrier to enter the Lithuanian market. Israir also entered the market with new Tel Aviv flights.
At the same time, Vilnius Airport has continued to attract additional based aircraft from existing operators. AirBaltic and Wizz Air each added a third based aircraft during 2025, collectively launching 10 new routes and increasing seat capacity by 17%.
Lithuanian Airports has also focused on broadening leisure connectivity beyond Vilnius. Through a partnership with a local tour operator, Palanga Airport introduced new charter services to Antalya, Sharm el Sheikh and Hurghada, expanding outbound leisure options for western Lithuania.
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“Our focus is on deepening connectivity to key European hubs, expanding access to long-haul networks via strong transfer points, and selectively growing in markets with high economic and tourism potential,” Sinkeviciute said. Priority regions include Western Europe, Southern Europe and parts of the Middle East.
During the first quarter, Lithuanian Airports recorded an all-time high for passenger traffic, with volumes up 8% compared with the same period a year earlier. “We have managed to reach these new records despite the situation in the Middle East and some airlines temporarily optimizing their schedules on select routes,” Sinkeviciute said. She added that airlines continue to launch new routes and add frequencies ahead of the winter 2026-27 season.
“Lithuania remains the largest and the wealthiest market in the Baltics, which has delivered the fastest recovery and growth in passenger count compared to 2019 and 2024,” Sinkeviciute said. “People are eager to travel, which presents an opportunity for airlines to seize the momentum and grow their presence in Lithuania.”
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