New Departure Terminal at Vilnius Airport Officially Opened
On Tuesday morning, the new passenger departure terminal at Vilnius Airport was officially opened, paving the way for enhanced capacity to accommodate the growing number of travellers and improving the country's connectivity. This milestone marks a modern technology-based breakthrough for Lithuanian Airports (Lietuvos oro uostai, LTOU) and doubles Vilnius Airport's capacity to serve passengers.
During the opening ceremony, the country's top officials cut the symbolic ribbon, wishing successful flights and new records.
According to Lithuanian Airports, 6.6 million passengers were served in 2024. It is expected that infrastructure development and modernization will create conditions to achieve new records and strategic goals.
"As passenger flows grow, along with the need for a more convenient and modern departure terminal, Vilnius Airport is evolving to meet these expectations, focusing on an overall improved and higher-quality travel experience. This is just the beginning of major changes, the benefits and convenience of which will soon be evident to everyone passing through Lithuania’s main air gateway. I congratulate you on this new beginning and wish you smooth progress in the work ahead," said Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas.
"The opening of the new departure terminal is a historic day for Lithuanian aviation. It is also a natural response to the rapidly increasing passenger flows and the ever-growing expectations of society. We are pleased to meet these expectations – from now on, we can offer passengers a more comfortable and pleasant experience before departing for their dream vacations or long-awaited reunions with loved ones. However, this is only the beginning of a long journey. We have already started the initial steps to ensure that returning to Lithuania will be just as convenient and pleasant," said Minister of Transport and Communications Eugenijus Sabutis.
A New Business Card for the Country
Lithuanian Airports (LTOU) CEO Simonas Bartkus noted that the unique departure terminal project has provided valuable lessons. These will be particularly beneficial for the further expansion of Vilnius Airport and the implementation of other strategic initiatives.
"By providing passengers with a higher level of comfort, we are also enhancing competencies of our teams and raising service and air travel standards. The more spacious, brighter, and twice as efficient departure terminal marks a new stage in technological advancement: for the first time in the history of Lithuanian airports, dozens of new systems have been implemented and synchronized—from self-service innovations to safety and risk management solutions that minimize human errors," emphasized S. Bartkus. He also expressed hopes that this long-term breakthrough will open new partnership opportunities with airlines.
"In recent years, we have been working with our partners to implement a flight incentive program to attract more travellers to discover and experience Vilnius. This experience envelops many aspects—from convenient transport connections to exciting attractions—but for many foreign visitors, it begins and ends at the airport. I have no doubt that the new departure terminal will ensure that the experience of Vilnius remains modern, welcoming, and comfortable until the very last moment, leaving every visitor with the thought of returning," said Vilnius Mayor Valdas Benkunskas.
"The construction of Vilnius Airport's departure terminal was not only a significant project but also a major challenge for our team. We are grateful for the opportunity to contribute to this important development, which will improve passenger experience and support the growth of Lithuanian aviation. For our company, this project represents more than just a building—it is a testament to our team's professionalism and ability to achieve outstanding results. The 'EIKOS statyba' team aimed for excellence at every stage of construction, which allowed us to complete the project ahead of schedule," said Almantas Čebanauskas, CEO of EIKOS statyba, UAB.
Future Developments
On Tuesday morning, the first flights departed from the new terminal. Hundreds of passengers entered the spacious two-story terminal, which covers a total area of 14,400 square meters. The first floor houses the check-in area with self-service baggage drop-off stations, public spaces, cafés, and other commercial zones, as well as airline offices. The second floor accommodates security screening, departure, and arrival gates for passengers traveling within the Schengen area. The terminal also features two new passenger boarding bridges, allowing direct boarding onto aircraft.
The new terminal is connected to the old passenger terminal via a spacious gallery, ensuring seamless movement between the terminals.
During the terminal's construction, significant improvements were made to the transportation infrastructure in front of Vilnius Airport. Engineering networks were upgraded, road surfaces were renewed, and new canopies for passengers and vehicles were installed. The revised traffic scheme now accommodates higher transport volumes, making access more convenient and user-friendly.
Following this milestone, Vilnius Airport is preparing for additional transformations with upcoming major projects. According to S. Bartkus, LTOU CEO, the conversion of old terminals is set to begin in the summer, involving the redesign and repurposing of existing spaces to expand commercial activities and offer passengers a wider range of services. This conversion is expected to be completed by the end of 2026.
Simultaneously, the planning and construction of a new arrival terminal will be underway, with its completion anticipated by the end of 2028.