newstodate.aero
Aug 14, 2012 (newstodate): Work on a master plan for development of Lithuania's Siauliai Airport is progressing, due to be presented in September 2012.
Expectations are that the master plan can be approved by the Siauliai city council at its regular meeting, also in September.
-The key point after the approval of the master plan will be to attract airlines to set up traffic at the airport, especially targeting cargo operators, as well as establishing the airport as an alternate airport for diversion of cargo and passenger flights, says Alfredas Lankauskas, member of the airport working group, former mayor of Siauliai and associate professor at Siauliai University, Doctor of Technology.
-Another pertinent problem to be solved concerns the management of the airport that is today run by people without any experience whatsoever in aviation and airport business. Actually, the current management is completely without any expertise in this business, says Mr Lankauskas.
In July, the airport management met with the City Council and the project group to hear complaints by one handling agent, InterExpresas, that has been barred from dealing on behalf of customers directly with the airport that has refused to acknowledge payments for handling services rendered to freighter operators.
The airport was granted one month to set up normal contract procedures with the handling company, but no solution has yet been found.
-Unfortunately, the problem remains by the expiry of the period granted due to absence on summer vacations, so the issue is still pending, says Mr Lankauskas.
Expectations are that the master plan can be approved by the Siauliai city council at its regular meeting, also in September.
-The key point after the approval of the master plan will be to attract airlines to set up traffic at the airport, especially targeting cargo operators, as well as establishing the airport as an alternate airport for diversion of cargo and passenger flights, says Alfredas Lankauskas, member of the airport working group, former mayor of Siauliai and associate professor at Siauliai University, Doctor of Technology.
-Another pertinent problem to be solved concerns the management of the airport that is today run by people without any experience whatsoever in aviation and airport business. Actually, the current management is completely without any expertise in this business, says Mr Lankauskas.
In July, the airport management met with the City Council and the project group to hear complaints by one handling agent, InterExpresas, that has been barred from dealing on behalf of customers directly with the airport that has refused to acknowledge payments for handling services rendered to freighter operators.
The airport was granted one month to set up normal contract procedures with the handling company, but no solution has yet been found.
-Unfortunately, the problem remains by the expiry of the period granted due to absence on summer vacations, so the issue is still pending, says Mr Lankauskas.