“The contractor and the management of the airport gave assurances that the reconstruction is going according to plan and will be completed on time. This is good news for all of us because this project is important not only to the main and the largest airport in Lithuania, but to the country as a whole,” said Rokas Masiulis, the Minister of Transport and Communications.
Gediminas Almantas, CEO at Lithuanian Airports, gave assurances that the middle of the reconstruction project was reached successfully due to the employees’ participation and professional work.
“Having assessed the current situation at the runway, we can say with confidence that the works will be completed on time and will take 35 days, as planned. Encouraging results were achieved due to careful preparation, efforts of the employees of Lithuanian Airports, and efficient work of contractors carrying out the reconstruction,” stated G. Almantas.
According to him, although weather conditions have not been the best and there have been cases when work had to be done in extreme conditions, work is being performed with maximum intensity and according to schedule. “There has never been so much equipment and so many workers on the runway at Vilnius Airport simultaneously,” said G. Almantas.
Over 200 pieces of various equipment, which have been operating in Vilnius Airport from 14 July, have already reinforced the soil next to the runway and have almost completed replacing the runway surface. This week, lights and the lights control system will be installed; 1000 lights will be installed in total, including 400 on the runway surface. In addition, during the first week of August, the installation of the drainage and rainwater collection system will continue.
The consortium of undertakings led by the Latvian company “A.C.B.” that is carrying out the reconstruction will lay a total of 180,000 square metres of asphalt at Vilnius Airport. This is equivalent to the area of 44 football fields.
During the runway reconstruction, flights are temporarily conducted from Kaunas Airport.
About Lithuanian Airports
The network of Lithuanian Airports includes three air gateways in Vilnius, Kaunas, and Palanga. In 2016, they handled 4.8 million passengers and 52,000 flights. During the summer season, 17 airlines organise flights from Lithuanian airports in 69 directions to 59 cities in 26 countries. According to Airports Council International Europe (ACI Europe), Lithuanian Airports contribute 2.5 per cent to Lithuania’s GDP.
