Vilnius airport becomes cheapest in Europe for new destinations

Vilnius International Airport (VIA) presented a new price formation to airlines which will promote new flights from Vilnius. This year VIA has already once reduced the passenger fee paid by airlines, which amounted to LTL 40.

"As compared to the neighbouring airports, that was a high price to pay. Therefore, now, when airlines count each litas, this price becomes a serious barrier for new flights", said Mr. Tomas Vaišvila, Director General of VIA.

After introduction of the new VIA price formation, the passenger fee for the new regular flights will amount to LTL 4 (cf. LTL 10.35 in Riga, LTL 31.74 in Tallinn and LTL 55.2 in Warsaw). As a result, for new destinations VIA will become one of the most accessible airports in Eastern and Northern Europe.

"That’s a serious reason for airlines to revise their plans in Lithuania", says Mr. Vaišvila. VIA has cut charges to airlines and for passengers travelling to current destinations.

Cutting of operating costs of Vilnius Airport this year made it possible to actualise the new VIA price formation. In 2008 the costs of VIA amounted to LTL 140 m. An efficient VIA cost reduction programme has been launched this year to eventually cut the costs of the enterprise up to LTL 85 m, while next year the costs are planned to decrease up to LTL 60 m.
 
After considerable savings of funds, the Ministry of Transport and Communications obliged VIA in principle to revise the price formation for services to make Vilnius Airport most competitive, attractive and accessible in Europe.

Further information on the price formation of the airport is available at http://www.vno.lt/en/business/charges/

Source: www.lepa.lt