Major Transport Hubs: Record Results and Bright Future Prospects

Lithuania’s major transport hubs – Klaipėda State Seaport, Kaunas Airport as well as Vilnius International Airport – demonstrated record results of their activities in 2008.

In 2008 even 4 new records in the history of the port of Klaipėda were reached -  the biggest total turnover of all types of cargo - 29,88 million ton, (+9.2% more than in 2007), the biggest turnover of oil products -  9,36 million tons (+31.1% more than in 2007), the biggest turnover of bulk fertilizers - 5,56 million tons (+5.7% more than in 2007) and the biggest turnover of container units (373,3 thousand TEU, i.e. +16.1% more than in 2007).
The new owner of the Klaipėda seaport - the Western port terminal operator Terminal Investment Limited - is planning further investments into the port infrastructure and technical equipment in order to further increase its capacities. EUR 50 million investments are expected in 2009-2011. Also, it is expected that 63 cruise liners will enter the port (by 20% more than in 2008) and about 40 000 passengers shall visit Klaipėda port town in 2009.  Particularly big number of large ships (more than 200 m in length) – even 22 large liners – will enter Klaipėda State Seaport this year. Besides, 8 cruise ships will come to the port for the first time in 2009.

Last year was very successful for the second largest Lithuania’s airport as well. 410,000 passengers used Kaunas Airport in 2008, a 5% increase over 2007, continuing the rapid growth of 5 times seen since 2005. A new modern passenger terminal was opened in 2008 in Kaunas Airport. Moreover, Kaunas Free Economic Zone, located near Kaunas Airport, and the Airport are planning common infrastructure development projects which will make the area even more attractive for business expansion projects. Finally, Kaunas Airport announced that JSC Aurela Group will lease a 16.000 sq meters land plot for 40 years and will construct a hangar facility of more than 9.000 sq meters, with all technical possibilities and equipment for servicing aircraft of up to Boeing 747 size. The investment into this project will be over EUR 9 million. Over 100 new qualified work places will be created for the region.

Vilnius International Airport, located in the capital city of the country, received 2,048 million passengers and serviced almost 38,500 flights in 2008. The 2 million passengers per year mark has been exceeded for the first time during the 17 years of enterprise operation.

www.lepa.lt