Comparing the results of the months of January-July, the number of passengers at Vilnius Airport increased by almost 13% during the year. In 2014 the Airport saw off and welcomed 2.9 million travellers; this year even a greater number is expected. According to the estimates of Routesonline, the global aviation route development organisation, the capital's airport was the fastest growing air gateway in Eastern Europe during 2010-2014.
"We served the second million of passengers almost a month earlier than last year – this is the result of our active work. We work both with the airlines which ensure wide possibilities of flights from Vilnius and the passengers, whose journey beings in the capital's airport. We take care that the time spent here is as enjoyable as possible", said Jūratė Baltrušaitytė, Commercial Director at Lithuanian Airports.
The lucky two millionth passenger became Laura Jaraminaitė, who took the airline airBaltic flight to Amsterdam. True, her journey will not end there – the young woman said she will catch further flight to Mexico. She was awarded with Vilnius Airport Privilege Card allowing even more comfortable travelling from the capital.
Currently, 17 airlines operate scheduled flights from Vilnius Airport in 47 different directions. In autumn the flight map will be supplemented – flights to Glasgow, Memmingen (Munich west), Berlin, and Billund are planned as well as the number of flights from Vilnius to Brussels, Paris, Stockholm (Bromma and Skavsta airports), Oslo, and Helsinki are to be increased.
The aviation route incentive programme was created at the initiative of Lithuanian Airports. Its aim is to promote new scheduled routes to Lithuanian Airports, to increase the intensity of the existing flights and to restore cancelled routes.