“Following a structured evaluation of all Lithuanian airports’ priorities, we managed to launch the implementation of this project and to coordinate its funding. We are particularly grateful to Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė and my team-mate Minister of Finance Gintarė Skaistė whose support made it possible to close Palanga Airport for only a brief period of reconstruction,” Minister of Transport and Communications Marius Skuodis said.
Lithuanian Airports Head Marius Gelžinis states that preparatory works for the reconstruction have been started in April this year.
“We are very happy that the Ministry of Transport and Communications is funding this important renovation project. This is a large-scale, very specific infrastructure renewal project. Its success highly depends on professionally handled preparation processes. This project is to be managed by our team of specialists who have extensive experience in implementing similar contracting works,” Marius Gelžinis said.
He believes that, from the strategic planning point of view, Palanga Airport infrastructure renovation is to ensure that this seaside airport, at least for another decade, complies with all international aviation safety and security requirements. Moreover, given a highly-competitive nature of aviation in the region, it will be possible to successfully develop aviation services in Palanga Airport.
Mayor of Palanga Šarūnas Vaitkus confirms that Palanga Airport is an important national hub, which, with its renewed infrastructure, is to create added value to the western region of Lithuania and nation-wide.
“Palanga Airport attracts more tourists to the region from abroad. It also provides convenient and fast customer connections between the region and Europe. Many residents of the western Lithuania use Palanga Airport for convenient international trips. When the airport infrastructure is renewed, travelling should become even more comfortable and safer with more flight destinations from Palanga to follow,” Šarūnas Vaitkus said.
Armands Svikis, CEO of ACB, Latvian company to perform the main airport contracting works, stated that with all preparatory reconstruction works being finished, the reconstruction is ready to be fully launched.
“Now we are very pleased that the preparation process was successful and reconstruction works are to commence on time. We have extensive experience in airport reconstruction projects, including successful reconstruction of Vilnius Airport; thus, we are confident that Palanga Airport runway reconstruction is to be implemented equally smoothly,” Svikis said.
Palanga Airport operations are suspended for the shortest possible period of only 45 days, starting from 6 September and all through 20 October. During this extremely active stage, contracting works are to be executed 24/7, the airport is to be closed and no flight operations are to be performed.
Following the completion of works, Palanga airport is to resume its operation in October, with all flights scheduled as usual. The remaining part of reconstruction works, to be executed in the already operating airport, is to be completed by 2 December 2021.
The entire territory of the airport, is to house 340 specialists and 120 units of construction equipment, including sub-contractors’ resources. The contractor will reconstruct the runway, which is almost 2,3 km long and 45 m wide, including its newly built side edges for increased aircraft runway safety.
During the project it is planned to remove around 170 thousand square metres of the old coating. Almost all construction material, or 90 percent of that to be generated during reconstruction, will be recycled or reused. Non-recyclable materials will be kept by specifically-licensed companies.
The reconstruction processes will predominantly require local Lithuanian materials, such as asphalt mixtures, concrete, minerals, some wells. Pipes, cables, signal LED system, water treatment equipment and other components are to be transported from other EU countries. The infrastructure reconstruction project is to require in total: 83 thousand tonnes of asphalt mixtures, 190 thousand tonnes of minerals, and 800 tonnes of concrete.
The renovated infrastructure of Palanga Airport will be in compliance with the latest international standards and ensure airport operations safety and faster aircraft service. Reconstructed runways will allow both, safe aircraft movement and cost-efficient fuel consumption. Following the reconstruction, Palanga Airport is to become more eco-friendly as part of the reconstruction works are specifically performed for the purposes of environmental protection. Engineering solutions will improve surface waste collection and treatment, LED signal lights will reduce energy consumption of the entire airport.
Despite the fact that due to tight deadlines large-scale construction works will be performed day and night, residents should experience only a minimal reconstruction exposure. Noise levels will be reduced during night-time. Palanga Airport reconstruction is scheduled in such a way as to avoid any negative environmental impact. The Environmental Impact Plan specifically designed for this project provides for noise- and dust-reduction solutions: banks of earth, regular irrigation of bulk materials and other measures.
