newstodate.aero
Jul 30, 2009 (newstodate): A comprehensive report on the future airport infrastructure of Lithuania will be handed over to the government in September or October, 2009.
The report has been worked out by the country's Ministry of Transport and Communications in response to a request by the Lithuanian prime minister in February this year.
Several consultants have been involved in the process, including the Danish consulting and engineering company COWI and the Lithuanian EKT.
-Our mandate has been to provide a systematic and unbiased oversight over all realistic and potential scenarios concerning the roles and optimization of the country's three airports at Vilnius, Kaunas and Palanga, says Rimvydas Vastakas, Vice-Minister of Transport and communications.
-Eventually, the report soon to be finalized will present three to five different scenarios for the government to consider and prioritize, after which the Ministry will continue to fine-tune and detail the scenario eventually selected.
-In the process, all possible situations and possibilities have been discussed and any stone turned in order to set free all ideas and options. Although the press has from time to time claimed that one or another option has been selected, no decision has been made in the process, and it is entirely op to the government to select which way we will go once the report has been delivered.
-Among the many issues is the idea of cooperation with an international airport management partner to optimize the joint management of the Lithuanian airports once the winning scenario has emerged from the political negotiations.
-Also under discussion is which European destinations are of strategic importance to Lithuania, and this will lead to an eventual selection of airline companies we will like to work with, both as to passenger and cargo traffic.
-Another discussion has its focus on our need to consider the establishing of a basic operating company, or national carrier after the demise of flyLAL, which also comprises the issue of financing or partnerships with foreign investors, says Mr Vastakas.
The report has been worked out by the country's Ministry of Transport and Communications in response to a request by the Lithuanian prime minister in February this year.
Several consultants have been involved in the process, including the Danish consulting and engineering company COWI and the Lithuanian EKT.
-Our mandate has been to provide a systematic and unbiased oversight over all realistic and potential scenarios concerning the roles and optimization of the country's three airports at Vilnius, Kaunas and Palanga, says Rimvydas Vastakas, Vice-Minister of Transport and communications.
-Eventually, the report soon to be finalized will present three to five different scenarios for the government to consider and prioritize, after which the Ministry will continue to fine-tune and detail the scenario eventually selected.
-In the process, all possible situations and possibilities have been discussed and any stone turned in order to set free all ideas and options. Although the press has from time to time claimed that one or another option has been selected, no decision has been made in the process, and it is entirely op to the government to select which way we will go once the report has been delivered.
-Among the many issues is the idea of cooperation with an international airport management partner to optimize the joint management of the Lithuanian airports once the winning scenario has emerged from the political negotiations.
-Also under discussion is which European destinations are of strategic importance to Lithuania, and this will lead to an eventual selection of airline companies we will like to work with, both as to passenger and cargo traffic.
-Another discussion has its focus on our need to consider the establishing of a basic operating company, or national carrier after the demise of flyLAL, which also comprises the issue of financing or partnerships with foreign investors, says Mr Vastakas.