Kaunas Airport has announced international tenders for the selection of contractors for its passenger terminal and the northern apron expansion projects.
This year's data shows that passenger flows at Kaunas Airport are at a record high and ahead of previous forecasts. If this trend continues, this year Kaunas Airport will handle more than 1.3 million passengers, which is well above its design capacity.
According to Lithuania’s Minister of Transport and Communications, Marius Skuodis, the development of the infrastructure of Kaunas Airport is of great importance for both the state's economic and national defence plans.
“Kaunas Airport is one of the fastest recovering airports in the region and has been exceeding the pre-pandemic results since the spring of last year. The existing terminal is already bursting at the seams because it is not equipped to handle such rapid growth in passenger numbers. It is also very important that this airport is a logistics hub for NATO partners. Military mobility projects are being prepared, which will also contribute to expanding the airport's capabilities,” he said.
Kaunas Airport is one of the most important aircraft repair and maintenance bases in the Baltic region, and the changes will not only expand passenger capacity, but will also help to increase the volume of aircraft maintenance services, creating the conditions needed for the growth of freight traffic
"These development projects are among the strategic priorities of Lithuanian Airports in 2023. They will ensure the sustainable development of the network of Lithuanian airports as a whole and, when completed in 2025, will enable them to serve more than 10 million passengers per year.
“We are looking for contractors both in Lithuania and abroad. When announcing the procurement, we have set a target that the real expansion works in both the passenger terminal and the northern apron could start as soon as the end of this year," said Aurimas Stikliūnas, interim CEO of Lithuanian Airports.
Both projects are expected to be completed in 2025, as is the construction and installation of the new passenger departure terminal at Vilnius Airport, the country’s main hub, and also owned by Lithuanian Airports.
Following its expansion, Kaunas Airport will be able to handle six aircraft at once, two more than at present
Business as usual
With the expansion of passenger capacity, the total area of the passenger terminal at Kaunas is expected to increase by about 4,300m2, and the airport's departure and arrival areas will be able to handle more than 800 passengers and up to six aircraft simultaneously. The new apron will cover an area of more than 35,000m2.
The project involves the dismantling of the eastern and western facades of the airport and the addition of two new extensions on the sides. Baggage reclaim areas, Schengen and non-Schengen arrival areas and passenger areas will be extended. Technological modernisation and innovation are also planned.
According to Stikliūnas, Kaunas Airport will operate normally during the works.
Image: Lithuanian Airports
