Kaunas Airport Terminal Opens to Passengers Following Major Expansion

The opening ceremony was attended by Prime Minister of the Republic of Lithuania Inga Ruginienė, Minister of Transport and Communications Juras Taminskas, representatives of Lithuanian Airports, Kaunas District Municipality and other institutions.

“This expansion of Kaunas Airport is not only an investment in infrastructure, but also an investment in people. It creates more opportunities for our economy, strengthens tourism growth and provides every passenger with greater comfort and ease when travelling,” says Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė.

“I am pleased to see Kaunas Airport has grown so much that it can now fit a basketball court. But what does this growth actually mean? Less stress and greater convenience for travellers: more boarding gates, check-in desks and service counters, faster baggage collection and shorter queues. All of this will ensure high-quality, modern service in line with international standards. Kaunas Airport is officially entering a completely new stage, raising the bar for Lithuania’s airports,” says Minister of Transport and Communications Juras Taminskas.

As part of the major expansion, both the arrivals and departures areas have been enlarged, increasing the overall terminal area by more than one and a half times to approximately 4,400 sq. m. Following the completion of the works, Kaunas Airport now has six boarding gates, compared with four previously. The airport’s capacity to handle aircraft has increased accordingly, allowing up to six passenger flights to be handled per hour.

Kaunas Airport is now more spacious and convenient for passengers. The check-in area has been expanded and additional check-in desks installed. Both the Schengen and non-Schengen areas have been enlarged, while additional spaces have been created for passengers to wait for their flights, dine and shop. Baggage reclaim areas have also been expanded, and car rental services have been relocated inside the terminal. The airport now has two baggage reclaim belts, compared with just one before the expansion.

The terminal expansion project at Kaunas Airport began in spring 2024. Construction works were carried out by the construction company Infes. The value of the construction contract was €17.7 million excluding VAT.

“Record passenger traffic at Kaunas Airport has for some time significantly exceeded the designed capacity of the terminal building. The successful completion of the reconstruction allows us to shift into a higher gear – to efficiently handle significantly larger passenger flows and, together with our partners, deliver a higher-quality passenger experience than before. The airport’s modernisation is already significantly strengthening Kaunas’ position as an important transport and logistics hub for the region,” says Simonas Bartkus, CEO of Lithuanian Airports, highlighting the objectives set out in Kaunas Airport’s long-term development plan through 2052, which will be achieved in stages.

The terminal expansion also placed a strong focus on upgrading key technologies essential for increasing passenger throughput and improving airport operational efficiency, particularly baggage handling and screening systems. Around €4.5 million excluding VAT was invested in upgrading these systems and related technologies alone.

Record passenger numbers expected this year

LTOU CEO Simonas Bartkus says that Kaunas Airport is expected to handle 1.6 million passengers in 2025, which would be an all-time record. However, he sees this figure as only a starting point for further growth.

The significant infrastructure upgrades are aimed at an even more ambitious target – reaching 2 million passengers within the next three years. This growth trajectory is set out in Kaunas Airport’s long-term development plan, with the focus now on consistently implementing the measures planned for each stage.

At the event presenting the expanded Kaunas Airport terminal, the slogan “We’ve Grown Big” was brought to life with a basketball court installed inside the terminal for passengers and guests to see. According to the event organisers, the symbolic feature both makes Kaunas Airport distinctive and reflects Lithuania’s passion for basketball. Kaunas Airport has now grown so much that there is even room for a basketball court inside the terminal.

Some areas opened earlier

The terminal reconstruction project was awarded to Infes following a public procurement process. The company expanded the terminal building in two directions, constructing eastern and western extensions. The changes cover all three floors of the terminal, including expanded baggage reclaim areas, larger Schengen and non-Schengen zones, and additional spaces for passengers to wait for flights, dine and shop.

Following the opening of the expanded terminal to passengers, the contractor will continue with the remaining interior construction works.

Even before the project reached completion, the airport had already opened several first-floor areas to passengers and their accompanying visitors, including a Narvesen convenience store, Katpėdėlė restaurant and a Duty Free shopping area. The expanded and more spacious check-in area was also opened earlier. A Charlie Pizza café was also opened in the Schengen departures lounge.

Modernisation works at Kaunas Airport’s P4 car park were completed earlier this summer. The renovated parking area has been expanded to almost 10,000 sq. m and now offers more than 370 parking spaces. Fourteen spaces are equipped for electric vehicle charging, while 14 spaces are designated for vehicles used by people with disabilities.

Construction is also underway on a new multi-storey car park at Kaunas Airport, scheduled to open in summer 2026. It will accommodate more than 900 vehicles, including 100 spaces for vehicles used by people with individual needs. Electric vehicle charging stations and dedicated parking spaces will also be provided.

Kaunas becoming increasingly integrated into the international airport network

According to LTOU CEO Simonas Bartkus, infrastructure development is being accompanied by stronger partnerships. Next spring, Kaunas Airport’s scheduled flight network will expand with a new route, as airBaltic is set to launch direct flights to Riga. The new service will provide highly convenient connections between Kaunas and the Latvian capital almost every day.

Together with the existing 28 direct destinations from Kaunas, connecting flights via Riga will effectively make Kaunas accessible from across Europe within a relatively short travel time, Bartkus notes.

These developments demonstrate that Kaunas Airport is becoming an increasingly important part of Lithuania’s overall airport system, giving travellers more choice and more convenient connections. Growing passenger traffic also has both direct and indirect benefits for the regional economy. Good connectivity is an important part of a high quality of life.