newstodate.aero
Feb 15, 2016 (newstodate): The Lithuanian parliament has the final say on the government's proposal for seeking a concessionaire to manage its three international airports now consolidated in a holding company, Lithuanian Airports.
If the proposal is approved, probably by March or April, work will progress on the investment project and, as a third step, the decision on naming an consultant to the government following on the tender process that has short-listed three alternatives, among which the winner will be announced by mid- or end-February 2016.
If, however, the plans for seeking a concessionaire are not supported by the government, there will still be a need for further development of the three airports of Vilnius, Kaunas and Palanga.
-The issue of airports concession is indeed crucial, but if the decision by the parliament should be to continue without this we will pursue our efforts to develop the individual airports under our common management, says Gediminas Almantas, Lithuanian Airports CEO.
-Each of the airports has its own characteristics and potentials. First, the airport serving our capital Vilnius will continue to strengthen the connectivity of Lithuania through the provision of international routes, and the airport is also poised to boost its importance as a provider of air services to Belarus, given the short distance to Minsk that is already a significant part of the airport's catchment area.
-The role of Kaunas Airport will be to develop in connection with the growing MRO and other aviation-related industries in this region that also houses much manufacturing industry. Kaunas will also serve as an efficient airport for low-cost operators as is already the case today.
-Finally Palanga Airport that is first of all ideally located to serve the important maritime industries at Klaipeda Harbor, besides being also close to major tourist and leisure areas on the Baltic sea coast. This is attracting more and more scheduled air services as well, and the potential is far from exhausted.
-So with or without a continued quest for a concessionaire to bring Lithuania's airports forward, we are determined to pursue these efforts - and have plans in either case, says Mr Almantas.
If the proposal is approved, probably by March or April, work will progress on the investment project and, as a third step, the decision on naming an consultant to the government following on the tender process that has short-listed three alternatives, among which the winner will be announced by mid- or end-February 2016.
If, however, the plans for seeking a concessionaire are not supported by the government, there will still be a need for further development of the three airports of Vilnius, Kaunas and Palanga.
-The issue of airports concession is indeed crucial, but if the decision by the parliament should be to continue without this we will pursue our efforts to develop the individual airports under our common management, says Gediminas Almantas, Lithuanian Airports CEO.
-Each of the airports has its own characteristics and potentials. First, the airport serving our capital Vilnius will continue to strengthen the connectivity of Lithuania through the provision of international routes, and the airport is also poised to boost its importance as a provider of air services to Belarus, given the short distance to Minsk that is already a significant part of the airport's catchment area.
-The role of Kaunas Airport will be to develop in connection with the growing MRO and other aviation-related industries in this region that also houses much manufacturing industry. Kaunas will also serve as an efficient airport for low-cost operators as is already the case today.
-Finally Palanga Airport that is first of all ideally located to serve the important maritime industries at Klaipeda Harbor, besides being also close to major tourist and leisure areas on the Baltic sea coast. This is attracting more and more scheduled air services as well, and the potential is far from exhausted.
-So with or without a continued quest for a concessionaire to bring Lithuania's airports forward, we are determined to pursue these efforts - and have plans in either case, says Mr Almantas.