OREANDA-NEWS. May 28, 2013. Gediminas Almantas, 34, the new CEO of Vilnius International Airport (VIA), has a clear vision as to how to develop the activity of the largest airport in the country.

“My philosophy, as the CEO’s of Vilnius International Airport, is to continue the works that have already started and to further improve the airport’s efficiency, to make it more beautiful, cosier and more convenient for each traveller, to make room for all airlines and other companies currently operating here," said the new Head of the airport.

Mr. Almantas states that airport services to passengers start with the passenger’s trip to the airport and end with his or her departure form the airport, i. e., it is a complex process involving a chain of services. For instance, passenger security screening is one of the services rendered to a passenger; however, a passenger needs to feel comfortable, safe and satisfied when accepting it.

“The airport is an isolated territory accepting and releasing aircrafts. Its activity is highly significant to a number of stakeholders – airlines, ground-handling companies, cargo carriers, municipalities, business people, industry sectors directly related to tourism, such as hotels, restaurants and bars; successful airport’s operation is in everyone's interests and at the same time they are obligated to actively contribute to the development and successful operation of the airport. All of us are pursuing a common goal, which can only be achieved through our joint efforts and mutual support rather than through competing or intervening with each others work.

According to the CEO of VIA, Lithuanian airports had been competing amongst each other in the past. The new CEO of VIA expects to replace competition with cooperation.

“All national airports should cooperate. Only by optimising airports’ activity processes and by using our resources and infrastructure more efficiently, we shall be able to offer better quality services to our passengers and a more favourable working environment to airlines”, Mr. Almantas said. He expects to implement his vision within 2–3 years.

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Prior to starting his work at Vilnius International Airport, Mr. Almantas in the Copenhagen Business School wrote a PhD thesis on the topic of international business negotiations ethics, lectured on the law and of climate change and business strategy, gave seminars and trainings on international negotiations for managers of international companies and for students, was the head of Executive MBA programme.

In 2012 he was involved in a scientific work in the field of business ethics, cross-cultural communication and corporate social responsibility in the USA.

In the Copenhagen airport Mr. Almantas was responsible for the development and implementation of corporate social responsibility policy, worked with projects on the development and operation of airports controlled by the Copenhagen airport in the Great Britain, Mexico, the USA and the Philippines.

8 years before that Mr. Almantas was a member and the VP of the Board of Swiss and Baltic States Chambers of Commerce, practiced as an aviation law attorney in Lithuania, worked in an attorney office and in finance institutions in Switzerland and in Liechtenstein.