OREANDA-NEWS. January 9, 2012. Vilnius International Airport (VIA) has devised ambitious plans for the upcoming year –  the passenger traffic is expected to boost by one fourth in 2012; at least 7 new direct routes will be launched, and profitable activities are anticipated for 2012–2014. 

In 2011, the rise of the Baltic aviation market was most rapid in Europe: the total passenger traffic in five largest airports of the Baltic States – Riga, Tallinn, Vilnius, Kaunas and Palanga – increased by 15% in 11 months of 2011, thus significantly surpassing the European average (4.5%). The passenger numbers in Lithuanian airports soared by 17% in this period, whereas Vilnius International Airport showed the most rapid growth of 22%.

“The growth in passenger traffic began in April and lasted throughout the year,” Managing Director of Vilnius International Airport Tomas Vaisvila says. According to him, the targeted low-cost policy and the new pricing system contributed to achieving the expansion of routes and a record-high number of passengers in 2011: “We optimised our activities and made considerable reductions in the costs of the enterprise. The said changes allowed us to offer competitive conditions for airlines and to reduce charges. Our achievement is 3 times lower charges payable by the airlines compared to 2005."   

According to the head of Vilnius International Airport, the airport plans to make even greater reductions in the costs in 2012–2013 and to generate more profits from aviation and non-aviation activities through the pricing policy in favour of the airlines and increased passenger traffic.

“It seems that we are on the right track – two large low-cost airlines WizzAir and Ryanair started operating flights from VIA in spring;  the Swedish airline Skyways made its return in summer, whereas the second largest Russian airline Transaero joined the existing airlines in the early winter," the head of VIA enumerates the airlines. “With regard to the attraction of the said airlines and new direct flights, we may expect to end the year with the 24% increase in passenger flow. We forecast the rise in passenger numbers by 25% and the increase in flights by 5% for the upcoming year and 12% and 8% respectively for 2013.” 

At the end of 2011, 17 airlines operated regular flights from Vilnius Airport, i.e. the highest number among all airports in the Baltic countries. Regular flights are available on 23 routes to 26 airports.

It is expected to open 7 new routes in 2012: daily flights to Berlin and 3-times-a-week flights to Paris (Beauvais Airport) and Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden from March. At the end of March, the daily flights will establish a direct communication channel between Vilnius Airport and the third airport in Moscow – Sheremetyevo Airport. Flights to Bergen, Oslo (Sandefjord Airport) and Liverpool will be launched in May and operated twice a week. 

Next to regular flights, the airport also expects to expand the map of holiday flights: VIA will offer direct flights to Faro (Portugal), Malaga (Spain), Larnaca (Cyprus), Rijeka (Croatia), Kos (Greece) and Sicily (Italy) islands. Also, more flights and larger aircrafts will be available on the routes to Frankfurt, Tallinn, London (Luton Airport), Eindhoven, Doncaster (Sheffield Airport) and Cork next year. According to the head of the airport, none of the airlines are planning on reducing the number of flights or aircrafts.