With contraband balloons launched from Belarus increasingly disrupting operations at Vilnius Airport, Lithuania’s airports operator has suggested that airlines consider moving night flights to Kaunas. But the head of the Civil Aviation Association warned Wednesday that such a move could push carriers to relocate routes to rival airports in Latvia or Poland.
“In the case of foreign airlines, their routes to Vilnius are just one part of a broader network and schedule. These routes often serve a very specific purpose – targeting business travellers or connecting to long-haul flights. Airlines take major route changes very seriously,” Inga Douglas told LRT RADIO.
“If the question is whether to move night flights to Kaunas, airlines will look at it much more broadly – whether the airports can meet their goals. And those airports do not necessarily have to be in Lithuania. Some routes could end up in Riga or Warsaw,” she added.
Douglas, who chairs the association’s board, said the situation at Vilnius Airport is difficult but does not justify closing it at night.
“I wouldn’t call the airport paralysed, because operations are disrupted irregularly depending on weather conditions and how close the balloons get to the airport. I don’t want to say the situation is good, but saying Vilnius Airport is paralysed and should be closed at night is not correct,” she said.
Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė said Tuesday that airlines have been offered “the maximum possible discounts” and the best available conditions to shift night flights to Kaunas Airport. So far, no carrier has accepted the proposal. She also said there are no signs airlines plan to scale back operations in Vilnius.
Transport Minister Juras Taminskas announced Monday that, to reduce balloon-related disruptions for passengers bound for Vilnius, the government and airlines will improve services at Kaunas Airport, where many flights are diverted when Vilnius cannot accept landings. He said conditions would be created for more flights to operate from Kaunas ahead of Christmas.
Since October, Lithuanian airspace over Vilnius Airport has been restricted more than 10 times because of balloons carrying contraband cigarettes, and once over Kaunas. Lithuania temporarily closed its border with Belarus earlier this year due to repeated balloon incursions.
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