Flight disruptions hit Vilnius, but passenger demand keeps airlines onboard

Vilnius Airport’s administration has minimized concerns over potential airline withdrawals, despite repeated airspace closures triggered by so-called "hybrid" meteor swarms carrying contraband, reportedly originating from Belarus.

Simonas Bartkus, CEO of Lithuanian Airports, said that the likelihood of airlines abandoning routes is low, as passenger demand remains the primary driver, Caliber.Az reports, citing Lithuanian media.

On December 1, Lithuanian Airports, together with Transport Minister Marius Skuodis, announced plans to expand capacity and enhance facilities at Kaunas Airport, which serves as a contingency location in the event of disruptions at Vilnius. To date, no carriers have indicated an interest in relocating evening flights to Kaunas.

Since late October, Vilnius Airport has been forced to close at least ten times due to meteor swarm activity, impacting approximately 47,000 passengers. On the night of December 1, the airport remained closed for 11 hours.

By Vafa Guliyeva