As the aviation summer season kicks off at the end of March, traditional airlines will play an even greater role in enhancing Lithuania’s air connectivity. Travelers from Vilnius, Kaunas, and Palanga airports will have access to nearly a hundred destinations, offering more convenient travel options across Europe and beyond.
“The sustainably developed infrastructure of Lithuanian airports allows us to strengthen long-term partnerships and forge new ones. Our partners appreciate our progress and ambitions to grow together, therefore they are increasing flight frequencies on routes important for business and tourism, existing connections with European capitals and aviation hubs are improving, and new destinations are being added. This creates conditions to pursue new traffic records, ensuring a high passenger experience and naturally spreading the message about the higher level of quality we have achieved in recent years by combining and harmonizing many different measures. Out of the 15 companies operating regular flights in Lithuania, 11 of them will increase their offerings to passengers this summer,” says Simonas Bartkus, CEO of Lithuanian Airports (LTOU).
The LTOU head expects that the aviation summer season will be even more active than last year’s – the entire LTOU network is preparing for this in advance.
This year, LTOU has included charter flights in the general list of destinations, which also improve travel opportunities on both new and recurring routes.
From Vilnius – More Trips to European Capitals
Vilnius Airport is preparing to handle the most regular flights. As the season progresses, carriers from Vilnius will offer 61 destinations.
Flights to the popular Greek resorts, Nice in France, and the Spanish island of Mallorca will resume. Connections with European capitals will also improve – flights to London, Paris, Copenhagen, Brussels, and other important hubs such as Frankfurt and Istanbul will run at more convenient times and more frequently, so business travelers can organize their trips even more smoothly. Most business-important flights operate from 5 PM to 10 PM, so passengers can conveniently depart from Vilnius after working hours.
The most significant news will be direct flights from Vilnius to Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic, Catania in Italy, Tel Aviv in Israel, Bergen in Norway, and Tirana in Albania.
At the start of the aviation summer season, charter flights will be organized from Vilnius to the Egyptian resorts of Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh, Burgas in Bulgaria, the Greek island of Rhodes, Tivat in Montenegro, the Portuguese island of Madeira, as well as to Tunisia and the most popular Turkish resorts.
Palanga Will Become a Gateway to Turkey and Egypt
Regular charter flights to Antalya in Turkey and Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt will be a novelty for Palanga Airport, allowing for an earlier start or extension of the summer season. The route to Turkey will begin as early as April 16, and Egypt will welcome travelers from Palanga from September 26.
The other 6 destinations will connect the western Lithuanian gateway with Amsterdam, Dublin, Oslo, and London, with the most active flights to Riga (10 times a week) and Copenhagen (14 times a week).
According to Lithuanian Airports data, passenger traffic at Palanga Airport increased by almost a quarter last year – nearly 380,000 people were served.
Flights from Kaunas – to the Rhythm of the Italian Tarantella
Kaunas Airport, which experienced a growth spurt last year, does not intend to slow down this year. The aviation summer season here will also start at the end of March, with the return of warm-season destinations to Greece, Croatia, and Italy. As many as six routes will lead from Kaunas to the “dolce vita” country, and one of them will be completely new – Ryanair will fly to Pescara from June 4. Tourists from Lithuania will be welcomed by Pisa and Rimini from March 30, Bari from March 31, and Naples from April 1. Air accessibility to Milan will continue to be maintained throughout the year.
LTOU head S. Bartkus points out that in terms of the number of destinations from Kaunas Airport in the summer, only the United Kingdom will match Italy, where Belfast, Bristol, Edinburgh, Liverpool, and two London airports remain easily accessible by air. Travelers to Ireland can choose Dublin or Shannon airports.
Those planning holiday trips to Southern Europe from Kaunas can choose Cyprus, as well as the Spanish cities of Malaga, Alicante, or the capital Madrid.
The first flight to the Croatian city of Zadar from Kaunas is scheduled for June 3, and those wishing to spend time on the sunny island of Mallorca can plan their trips from March 31. Flights to the Greek island of Rhodes from Kaunas Airport start on May 1.
In total, Kaunas Airport will offer 26 destinations during the summer aviation season and will continue to grow passenger traffic, which reached 1.4 million last year.
According to Lithuanian Airports data, more than 56,800 flights were served at all three airports last year – 7% more than in 2023.
Source: ltou.lt