newstodate.aero
Jan 24, 2011 (newstodate): Lithuania is a most difficult aviation market, as witnessed by several airline bankruptcies over the last few years.
-The difficulties arise not least from the small size of the market that makes viable operations by national carriers very demanding, says Rimvydas Vastakas, Vice-Minister of Transport and communication.
-We have seen the demise of flyLAL and Star1 Airlines, and we note the current difficulties for another Lithuanian carrier in the process of refinancing.
-However, we have seen passenger volumes at both Vilnius and Kaunas Airport rising during 2010, and we have added 10-12 new destinations from Lithuanian airports during the year. Among the new carriers to launch services from Lithuania in 2011 is the Hungarian low-cost carrier that will offer flights between Vilnius and Stockholm Skavsta, London, Barcelona, Cork, Doncaster, Eindhoven, Milan and Rome.
-We are also eager to hear more of the plans by the owners of the Latvian investment company, Baltic Aviation Systems, that has announced intentions to launch a new airline in Lithuania from the start of 2011.
-So far little information about this venture has been added, but we do hope the plans will materialize.
-First of all, I am confident that the liberal approach by the airports in the region creates the optimal conditions for development of the region's civil aviation. We welcome any initiative that induces further energy into the market for passenger and cargo air transportation, says Mr Vastakas.
-The difficulties arise not least from the small size of the market that makes viable operations by national carriers very demanding, says Rimvydas Vastakas, Vice-Minister of Transport and communication.
-We have seen the demise of flyLAL and Star1 Airlines, and we note the current difficulties for another Lithuanian carrier in the process of refinancing.
-However, we have seen passenger volumes at both Vilnius and Kaunas Airport rising during 2010, and we have added 10-12 new destinations from Lithuanian airports during the year. Among the new carriers to launch services from Lithuania in 2011 is the Hungarian low-cost carrier that will offer flights between Vilnius and Stockholm Skavsta, London, Barcelona, Cork, Doncaster, Eindhoven, Milan and Rome.
-We are also eager to hear more of the plans by the owners of the Latvian investment company, Baltic Aviation Systems, that has announced intentions to launch a new airline in Lithuania from the start of 2011.
-So far little information about this venture has been added, but we do hope the plans will materialize.
-First of all, I am confident that the liberal approach by the airports in the region creates the optimal conditions for development of the region's civil aviation. We welcome any initiative that induces further energy into the market for passenger and cargo air transportation, says Mr Vastakas.