Lithuanian Airports Reach an All-Time Record Before Year-End – 7 Millionth Passenger Welcomed
On Tuesday, December 23, Lithuanian Airports recorded an all-time passenger record and welcomed the seventh-millionth passenger of the year. Marina, a passenger departing from Vilnius Airport to Treviso, Italy, was seen off with congratulations and gifts.
“Seven million passengers mean seven million unforgettable moments. Record passenger flows show that even in the face of challenges, Lithuania remains resilient and open to the world. The development of Vilnius and Kaunas airports and the modernization of Palanga Airport have made it possible to expand the flight network, ensure better connectivity, and offer a wider choice of flights for all travelers. I am pleased that Lithuanian Airports are opening up more of the world—for work, leisure, or meetings with loved ones,” said Minister of Transport and Communications Juras Taminskas.
“Seven million passengers was this year’s goal, which we achieved together by combining the capacities of Vilnius, Kaunas, and Palanga airports. Record passenger flows confirm that decisions to develop airport infrastructure were purposeful and created opportunities to provide high-quality services to even more passengers. We also thank our aviation partners for new routes, more frequent flights, and new airlines that have begun operations in Lithuania. We thank passengers for their trust, and the Lithuanian Airports team for their sincere and continuous work, which helps all of us grow and brings Lithuania closer to the world,” said Simonas Bartkus, CEO of Lithuanian Airports.
Marina, departing from Vilnius to Treviso, was delighted by the surprise and the LTOU gift—the opportunity to use the Vilnius Airport VIP terminal services before her next flight and experience top-class comfort.
According to S. Bartkus, despite the challenges, the LTOU team expected record results, as consistent growth in passenger flows was recorded in nearly every month of this year. In August this year, LTOU also set an all-time monthly passenger record, with 706.7 thousand passengers choosing Lithuanian Airports for their journeys. Daily records were set several times, each time surpassing previous results—the highest number of passengers was recorded on October 13: 21,278 passengers at Vilnius Airport and 27,843 across all Lithuanian Airports. The previous record day had been August 18, with 20,888 passengers in Vilnius and 26,961 across LTOU as a whole. In November this year, more than 526.7 thousand passengers were served—8 percent more than in November 2024—even with recurring airspace restrictions over Vilnius Airport. Every subsequent day of 2026 is record-breaking for LTOU, as a new annual passenger traffic record is reached daily. It is estimated that this year passenger traffic will be almost 8 percent higher than last year; in 2024, 6.6 million passengers were served.
“The successful completion of the new Vilnius Airport departures terminal and the reconstruction of the Kaunas Airport terminal were among the most important steps forward, elevating our growth potential to a new level at a time when the regional aviation market is growing intensively. We now have a solid foundation for further changes that will further strengthen our positions in the region,” says S. Bartkus.
Based on the results for January–November this year, Lithuanian Airports also hold the largest share (41 percent) of the Baltic states market. The company’s CEO states that LTOU is determined to further strengthen its leadership position, primarily by improving the passenger experience and sustainably developing partnerships with airlines. This year, new airlines—flydubai and Israir—were attracted to the Lithuanian Airports network, offering Lithuanian travelers new routes and improving the country’s air connectivity.
In 2026, LTOU plans to welcome even more passengers at its airports. Airlines are already offering new routes for next year: from Vilnius to Gdańsk, Podgorica, and Chișinău; from Kaunas to Riga; from Palanga regular flights to Bergen, as well as charter flights to Crete and a new Egyptian holiday destination—El Alamein. Flight frequencies will also be increased next year, further improving air connectivity and creating more favorable conditions for connecting flights for onward travel. The new infrastructure at Vilnius and Kaunas airports, along with even more passenger services at airports, is ready for higher passenger flows. It is forecast that passenger numbers in 2026 should grow by another approximately 700,000.