In May, Lithuania's three main international airports restored approximately 85% of their pre-pandemic capacity as the aviation industry continues to recover. Kaunas International Airport (KUN), in particular, has excelled after exceeding its pre-COVID levels for the second month running.

Lithuanian aviation recovery on track

SE Lithuanian Airports, which manages Vilnius (VNO), Kaunas (KUN), and Palanga (PLQ) airports, has revealed that the three airports, on average, recovered around 85% of their pre-pandemic levels last month.

In May, approximately 528,000 passengers and 5,000 flights passed through Lithuania's three main international airports. In the same month of 2019, around 620,000 passengers and 5,700 flights went through these airports.

Vilnius Airport
Vilnius Airport handled around 75% of passengers across Lithuania's three main international airports. Photo: Getty Images

This year's figure is a huge improvement on the same month of 2021 when the three airports collectively handled around 88,000 passengers.

Aurimas Stikliūnas, Head of Aviation Services at Lithuanian Airports, said,

"We aim to continue to maintain the leading position in the Baltic region and Europe in terms of recovery and growth that we have secured in recent months. We continue to work consistently to achieve our goals and are in constant negotiations with airlines to offer an even wider choice of destinations to our passengers and to move even faster towards a full recovery."

Stikliūnas added that, with the removal of COVID-related travel restrictions, the summer season is shaping up well for a full recovery.

Kaunas Airport exceeds pre-COVID capacity

Kaunas International Airport, Lithuania's second-busiest airport behind Vilnius, continues to lead the recovery after exceeding its pre-pandemic levels for the second month in a row.

Stikliūnas said,

"Kaunas Airport has rapidly picked up its pace and does not seem to be stopping any time soon. In April and May, we have seen active growth at Kaunas Airport, even surpassing the records set in 2019. We expect this growth to continue."

The airport handled over 107,000 passengers and 1,052 flights in May, up from 102,000 passengers and 851 flights in May 2019. Cargo was also up to 404 tonnes from 363 tonnes.

Given that 2019 was a record year for Kaunas Airport, the airport looks set to break its records over the next six months.

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Vilnius Airport at 81%

Vilnius International Airport, the country's busiest airport serving its capital city, welcomed around 395,000 passengers and more than 3,600 flights in May.

This is approximately 81% of what it managed in May 2019, which saw just over 488,000 passengers and almost 4,500 flights over the month.

Wizz Air plane taking off from Vilnius
The low-cost market is big at Lithuanian airports. Photo: Lithuanian Airports

Palanga International Airport has recovered slightly more, achieving around 85% of its pre-pandemic capacity last month. The airport handled 25,000 passengers and 353 flights, down from 29,000 passengers and 410 flights in 2019.

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